Connecticut

Connecticut Red Cross Volunteers Prepared to Deploy for Dorian

As Hurricane Dorian barrels toward the southeastern part of the country, veteran Red Cross Volunteer Wayne Dailey of Mystic is packing up for the storm expected to pack a major punch.

“This one will be my 32nd deployment,” Dailey said.

“It knocks people out of their usual routine they become very stressed out,” Dailey said.

Dailey is one of seven Connecticut responders so far set to deploy ahead of Dorian and one of about 300 Red Cross volunteers from across the country heading to the region in the next 48 hours.

Dailey, a disaster mental health specialist, knows the mental toll storms like this can take on residents.

“They are disoriented, some of them may be anticipating that they’re going to be losing their home,” Dailey said.

The area is all too familiar with devastating and deadly natural disasters. It wasn’t but two years ago that the region was hit by Hurricane Irma. Dailey says having previous experiences with disaster doesn’t make those who go through them tougher.

“That’s kind of an old myth in many ways. They grind people down and they become even more unsettled by the approach of a big storm like this,” Dailey said.

Dailey is prepared to work 12 to 16 hour days for the next couple of weeks at Red Cross shelters or emergency aid stations. He says he considers it more of a reward than work.

“Helping people in a time of need is a great thing to do it uplifts the spirit,” Dailey said.

There are 2,500 Red Cross volunteers in Connecticut. Those who are available to help with Hurricane Dorian relief remain on standby. The Red Cross says about 450 volunteers from across the country are already staged to respond after Dorian makes landfall.

The Red Cross says the most immediate need are financial donations. You can donate at redcross.org, or by calling or texting 1-800-RED-CROSS.

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