News Release
DENVER, MAY 3, 2023 — People in Colorado and Wyoming are facing another active year of wildfires and the American Red Cross of Mile High, urges everyone to get ready now and consider becoming a volunteer to help people affected by the growing number of climate-driven disasters.
“Across the country, we’re launching nearly twice as many major disaster relief operations as we did a decade ago, much of that attributed to the climate crisis,” said Gino Greco, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. “Because of this dramatic jump in the number of large disasters to which we are responding, we need more volunteers so we can continue providing relief on a near-constant basis to make sure families are supported when they need it most.”
Red Cross volunteers make up 90% of our workforce. Across the country, they’re continuously providing shelter, comfort, hot meals, health services and recovery support to families in need. Just in 2022, 124 local Red Cross volunteers provided shelter, food and support for those evacuated from their homes after being treated by wildfires.
In the last 10 years, the number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. has increased 70%. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control says the state should anticipate average wildland fire activity in 2023 based on current outlooks, weather patterns and fuel conditions. On an average year, Colorado can experience over 5,500 wildland fires. The eastern plains remain under drought conditions, with the southeast corner in particular experiencing large areas of severe to exceptional drought with the highest potential for fire activity at least in the short term.
BECOME A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER The need to help during disasters has never been greater. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday for more information. Our most-needed disaster positions include:
- SHELTER SUPPORT: Help at a shelter during a large disaster by welcoming and registering residents, serving meals, setting up cots, distributing blankets and personal hygiene kits, and providing information and other assistance to people in need.
- HEALTH SERVICES: We also need volunteers who can use their professional skills as a licensed health care provider to deliver hands-on support, including care and education to people staying at a shelter during a large disaster. Qualified licenses include RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP and APRN.
- DISASTER ACTION TEAM: While big wildfires get the most news coverage, smaller disasters, such as home fires, are no less devastating to those affected. Join your local Disaster Action Team to help families in need by providing food, lodging, comfort, recovery assistance and other support.
PREPARE YOUR FAMILY NOW With the increasing risk of climate disasters, it’s more important than ever to follow the three steps below to help keep your family safe. Plus, download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and more safety tips. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps..
- Build an emergency kit with bottled water, non-perishable food, a flashlight and battery-powered radio. Also include medications, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers and emergency contact information.
- Make an evacuation plan with what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and if you have to evacuate. Make sure to coordinate with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plans — and don’t forget your pets.
- Know how to stay informed by finding out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders.