You can help: All hands on deck for the Red Cross, dealing with disasters at home and across state lines



MILWAUKEE -- It is all hands on deck for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Wisconsin. Not only are they dealing with an unprecedented three large-scale disasters here in the state (two floods in northern Wisconsin and a fire in Sheboygan), but workers and volunteers are lending a hand across state lines as well -- helping California wildfire victims, and those dealing with deadly flooding in Louisiana.

It has been a busy summer for the Red Cross. Workers and volunteers from across the country were called out to assist after wildfires in California, and flooding in Louisiana -- including volunteers from Milwaukee.

This, as other volunteers have been busy here at home.

Now, the Red Cross needs some help of its own.

Amber Finley



Amber Finley, a Red Cross volunteer, recently helped out amid the deadly flooding in Louisiana. The damage has caused more than 106,000 residents and households to register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. More than 60,000 homes were damaged, officials said, and 13 people were killed.

"All of their belongings were on the streets," Finley said. "A lot the streets were filled with sofas, TVs, clothing -- really all of their personal belongings."

Finley not only saw these situations play out in real life while volunteering with the Red Cross, she met families living through it.

Louisiana flooding



"A little girl came up to me and she noticed my Red Cross T-shirt and she asked for help. That she knew because I had my Red Cross T-shirt on that I could help her, it's just incredibly moving," Finley said.

Finley was one of more than 40 workers dispatched from southeastern Wisconsin to help out in Louisiana. Others were called to California to assist those impacted by wildfires.

Louisiana flooding



And there have been incidents necessitating a Red Cross response here at home as well.

"The three disasters we`ve had here, the two floods (in northern Wisconsin) as well as the fire (in Sheboygan), those are going to cost the Wisconsin region $10,000 for each event," a Red Cross official said.



Thirty Red Cross volunteers have responded to Sheboygan, where one person was killed and more than 40 others were displaced by a fire at the Embers Apartments early Sunday, August 21st. Fire damaged half of the complex. The other half was damaged by smoke and water.

The American Red Cross had to open a temporary shelter at Farnsworth Middle School in Sheboygan to assist those displaced as a result of the fire.

The State Fire Marshal is looking into the cause of the fire.

Fire at Embers Apartments in Sheboygan



Fire destroys portion of apartment complex in Sheboygan





American Red Cross opens temporary shelter at Farmsworth Middle School in Sheboygan



Finley said these incidents are nothing Red Cross volunteers cannot handle -- but the Red Cross does rely on your generous donations. Additionally, the Red Cross is always looking for volunteers.

"Just know that it has such a huge impact really across the nation," Finley said.

Flooding in northern Wisconsin



Damage from the Louisiana flooding is estimated at about $30 million.

Red Cross of Southeastern Wisconsin officials say more volunteers from the Badger State will head down south in the coming weeks to help with the recovery.

American Red Cross



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