NE Ohio volunteers in Florida to help with Hurricane Helene aftermath

(WJW) – As Hurricane Helene strengthened to a Category 4 Thursday night, volunteers from Northeast Ohio have already been deployed to Florida to help with the storm’s aftermath.

The American Red Cross has deployed about 275 trained volunteers to assist, including some from Northeast Ohio.

The Northern Ohio chapter of the American Red Cross said three of its volunteers are already in Florida sheltering in place.

One of them is Mahogany Coward of Canton . Right now, she’s stationed at an elementary school that’s been turned into an evacuation shelter in Branford, Florida.

“This one to me is aggressive. This is probably my 30th deploy in nine years. Next year makes 10 years,” she told FOX 8.

Coward said there are at least 25 evacuation shelters set up all over the state of Florida.

“Once the storm has pushed through, we will open up, assess the damage and open up the original Red Cross shelter where people can stay for a week, month,” Coward said.

The Red Cross of Northern Ohio three others are awaiting their travel arrangement as soon as the storm passes, and more volunteers may be called on, depending on the impact of the storm.

“What I’m asking is that other communities and nationally, say a prayer for us because after the hurricane, what’s next?” Coward said. “That’s when the damage comes. We are supplying food and shelter to weather the storm.”

Hurricane Helene is already impacting travel in Northeast Ohio, canceling severe Florida flights at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Thursday.

Keep up with more hurricane coverage right here.

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