The American Red Cross & PG&E mobilizing help to send to Florida
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV): As people in Florida flee from hurricane Milton, organizations on the Central Coast organizations are mobilizing efforts to send aid.
The American Red Cross Central Coast region is sending help to the people of Florida during these challenging times.
"We are prepping for more volunteers to go," said Patsy Gasca, Community Disaster Program Manager for the American Red Cross Central Coast, "We are also prepping our specialty vehicles which are response vehicles, that will be assisting in feeding, distribution of emergency supplies, etc."
The American Red Cross said they have sent 51 people, staff and volunteers, from their Northern and Central Coast region to Florida. They said two volunteers who live in the Central Coast are already in Florida, and four will be on their way soon.
Gasca said they're going to help the people in Florida as long as they need to.
"We will be there until the needs are met in those areas," said Gasca. "Like I said this is just the tip of the iceberg, then there's recovery, long-term needs, the American Red Cross will be there."
Not only is the American Red Cross sending help for the people of Florida, but so is PG&E. PG&E said they've sent 400 electric workers and more than 300 trucks to Florida, prior to going to Florida, PG&E crews were helping out people restore their power that they lost because of Hurricane Helene in Georgia.
"Right now our crews are in a safe location, and they're going to come out and help with the restoration efforts as soon as the storm passes and it's safe to do so," said Stephanie Magallon, Spokesperson for PG&E, South Bay & Central Coast region. "They're going to the communities that are most impacted."
During the 2023 winter storms, California received aid from several agencies across the nation. Now, PG&E said it's time to help the states that are going through a natural disaster.
"They come to our aid when we need it the most, whether that be for the winter storms, or during another disaster, and here we're repaying the favor," said Magallon."We're going to these states and help these agencies when the communities need it."
