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Red Cross volunteers from Minnesota head southeast to help with hurricane relief

Minnesotans flee Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches
Minnesotans flee Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches 02:22

MINNEAPOLIS — As Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida, nearly 100 Red Cross volunteers and workers from Minnesota and the Dakotas are ready to help. 

Many are already on the ground in parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas helping with recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene

The organization's regional headquarters has also deployed all seven of its Emergency Response Vehicles filled with supplies to help areas hardest hit.

Kimberly Vosseteig, executive director for the American Red Cross serving eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, deployed to North Carolina, just outside Asheville, where she is helping local rural families recover from Hurricane Helene. 

She said many communities and businesses were inundated with standing water as helicopters flew constantly overhead to bring in relief supplies.

Red Cross leaders said they could always use more volunteers, whether to travel to areas affected by natural disasters or to help with remote work. 

The American Red Cross is also working to restock critically needed blood products because of the ongoing impact of Hurricane Helene's devastation and anticipated impact of Hurricane Milton in the Southeast. 

Donors outside of affected areas — including our Minnesota and Dakotas region — are encouraged to make an appointment to give now and help keep the blood supply stable in the weeks to come. 
 
Anyone who give blood in the month of October will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card and be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. 

For full details, click here.

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