Increasing frequency of extreme disasters like Hurricane Helene are driving high demand, says a release from the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region.

The chapter is issuing an “urgent appeal” for volunteers who are willing to travel this fall to support emergency shelters for major national disaster relief efforts.

Interested volunteers are urged to sign up at redcross.org/volunteer. All candidates must complete necessary training and be able to commit to a two-week deployment.

Applicants who don’t have disaster experience, but have supervision, management or organization skills; a strong desire to help others; and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, are encouraged to apply.

“When disasters upend lives, Red Cross volunteers are on the frontlines providing refuge and comfort to people in their darkest hours,” Kate Qualters, Interim Regional Chief Executive Officer, said in the release. “They truly are the heart and soul of the Red Cross — comprising 90 percent of our workforce — to help ensure families never face a crisis alone.”

In emergency shelters, Red Cross disaster volunteers provide people with a safe place to stay, necessities like food and water, mental health support, and basic health services such as replacing lost medications or medical equipment.

Over the weekend in Perry, Florida, Amber Barteau and her family sought refuge at a Red Cross shelter after discovering that Hurricane Helene devastated their home — which marked the third time they’ve survived a hurricane in just over a year.

“As soon as I pulled up to the shelter, it made me feel good,” Barteau was reported as saying in the release. “I thought to myself, this is safe, and I’m going to be OK.”

As of Monday, Sept. 30, more than 900 Red Cross disaster responders were on the ground across 10 states devastated by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast, including hard-hit North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

On Sunday night, Sept. 29, more than 2,600 people stayed in 69 emergency shelters supported by the Red Cross and other community organizations. That overnight total jumped by some 600 people in just one day — and as storm-ravaged communities like those in North Carolina become more accessible, the Red Cross expects the need will continue to grow.

While disaster assessments are still underway in hard-to-reach areas, emergency officials are planning for shelter operations to last at least several weeks, based on the storm’s initial widespread destruction.

Hurricane season is far from over — and the threat of more storms looms now in the Gulf and Atlantic oceans. The Southwest and California are forecast to have above-normal wildfire risk this fall. As the extreme weather worsens, disasters are becoming more intense and frequent — leading the Red Cross to respond on a nearly continuous basis.

Beyond becoming a Red Cross volunteer, people can help by donating money at redcross.org or text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation to help people affected by Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene has caused more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected in the Southeast — yet the need for blood remains constant for patients in need. Those outside the affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves