Northeast Ohio volunteer in Florida readies for 2nd hurricane response as Milton rides Helene’s wake

(WJW) — Mahogany Coward of Canton is going into her 13th day of deployment to the Hurricane Helene disaster response in Florida .

“It’s been a doozy. This is probably my fifth shelter,” said Coward.

A volunteer with the Northern Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross , Coward was in Tallahassee when Hurricane Helene made landfall back on Sept. 26.

“People just now, out of that time, getting their electricity and power back on. The devastating part is now they can see the real damage,” said Coward.

However, any relief was short-lived after news broke that Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a hurricane Sunday with its path aimed at Florida’s west coast.

“For it to be landing possibly Tuesday, early Wednesday is devastating. We haven’t even begun the cleanup. The power just came back on,” said Coward.

At least six disaster workers from Northern Ohio have been assigned to the Hurricane Helene disaster response.

Coward is currently stationed at an evacuation shelter in Jacksonville, Florida.

She said they are supplying residents with roof tarps to help protect what little they have left.

“To have Milton come through and trample on power lines that just been restored, my heart goes out to them,” said Coward.

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