CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The American Red Cross has more than 350 volunteers who came to Texas from across the country providing much-needed relief for those hit hard by Hurricane Beryl.
They joined many volunteers from our own Coastal Bend chapter, which provides support to at least 19 Texas counties.
Volunteers are helping with this large-scale disaster response both virtually and in the field.
American Red Cross Coastal Bend Chapter Executive Director Angelina Garcia said the first priority this week is mass care.
"Whether it's a cooling center or an overnight shelter, that is our primary focus right now, and making sure that folks are fed," Garcia said.
The executive director was in Sargent on Thursday, just up the Texas Gulf Coast from Matagorda—where Beryl made landfall. She assessed the damage and saw how she could help. She said every community nearby has been affected differently by the hurricane.
"One street is virtually untouched, and you might see a few shingles off of a roof, and then you turn down another street and you see widespread damage," Garcia said.
She said some cities like El Campo lost power. It comes as some Houston residents are living for days without power in the summer heat.
Garcia explained that the Red Cross is working with local officials to make sure they are providing relief where it is needed, including the Houston area.
"We're opening up centers and shelters as well to make sure that we're taking care of folks and that they have some respite from the sun and this heat," she said.
As people come to the shelters for help after Beryl's damage, Garcia said people are appreciative of what the Red Cross is doing. She described an encounter she had with someone at one of the shelters.
"She said, 'God still sends angels,' and I said, 'We're just the hands and the feet and we love to do this work because we want to be here to serve our communities," Garcia said.
She explained that there are more resources online for people affected by Beryl.
On redcross.org, you can find information about nearby shelters and how to volunteer. She added that donations are crucial during this active hurricane season. She said you can visit their website to help.