TEMPLE, Texas — The American Red Cross Heart of Texas is stationed in Temple for the foreseeable future, ready to assist in the recovery efforts after the tornadoes that tore through Temple on May 22.
The organization has mobilized local and out-of-area disaster relief workers, 90 percent of whom are volunteers, to assist the community from their hub at the Wilson Park Recreation Center, located at 2205 Curtis B Elliot Dr. in Temple.
Executive Director Jennifer Young said the organization is working closely with local officials and organizations to evaluate the damage across impacted areas and the needs of residents from food to water to shelter and medical care.
"We've even got folks that have traveled from across the country to go do the damage assessments and are out in the field to find out what it is the community needs and what the aftermath of this looks like," Young said.
Those volunteers out in the field surveying the damage are helping connect tornado victims with damage service providers, and assistant director of external relations Shane Bell said the volunteers will also act as advocates on victims' behalf in dealing with insurance companies.
"We're identifying those organizations that came out here and we're able to work with them," Bell said. "Since they're not going anywhere, we're here to help them plan for what happens next and for the next disaster."
Bell said the Red Cross is actively looking for donations to ensure there are enough supplies on hand as cleanup from the disaster goes forward.
"I meet people at the worst time of their lives," Bell said. "And we're here to give a little hope and give them options on what they can do to get back to their new normal."
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