How Central Oregonians can help Spokane wildfire recovery — and prepare for the next disaster
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly 65,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Washington state as wildfires cause widespread destruction. The American Red Cross is currently coordinating relief efforts and requesting local support to assist those displaced by the fires.
The organization is accepting monetary donations and blood to support ongoing disaster relief operations. Community members can also volunteer for training to serve as responders for future emergency situations.
Morgan Schmidt, executive director of the Red Cross for Central and Eastern Oregon, said that local resources are being used to support the crisis in Washington state. Schmidt noted that the region is reciprocating the help it received from other areas during previous fire seasons.
“We are sending people just like we’ve had people from across the country come to help us this wildfire season,” Schmidt said. “Same thing will be happening up in Washington state. And the more folks we can have locally as those responders, the better.”
To prepare for potential evacuations locally, the organization recommends that residents assemble a go-bag. This kit should contain enough supplies for each person to spend at least 72 hours away from their home.
Residents are also encouraged to organize and identify the location of valuable documents so they can be retrieved quickly. Safety officials suggest signing up for emergency alerts from the local sheriff and downloading the Red Cross emergency app for real-time notifications.
The Red Cross also provides evacuation preparedness courses for the community. These programs are free of charge and businesses can contact the organization to arrange specific training for their staff members.
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