Add hurricane relief to the causes for which the American Red Cross Central and Northern Missouri chapter has held telethons.
The organization partnered Tuesday with ABC 17 and FOX 22 to host a telethon to help pay for relief efforts in the southeastern United States. The event raised $5,400, officials said Tuesday evening.
Hurricane Florence crawled onto the North Carolina Coast on Sept. 14 and spent days pouring rain on the state - more than 36 inches in some locations. Although only rated as a Category 1 hurricane based on wind speeds, it caused extensive, long-lasting flooding. Then, on Oct. 10, Hurricane Michael - a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds clocked at about 150 mph - slammed into the Florida Panhandle and quickly passed through Georgia and the Carolinas. High winds caused catastrophic damage to the states as it passed through.
Already hard-pressed by Florence, the American Red Cross quickly responded to Michael, said Abigail Anderson, executive director of the local chapter. Eleven local volunteers were in North Carolina, helping feed and shelter people as floodwaters receded, when Michael came through, adding up to another half-foot of rain, but also blowing down trees unsteadily rooted in saturated ground.
The local chapter has added two office staff to the North Carolina effort. It also now has sent nine volunteers to Florida.
Michael's damage was widespread. Routes are covered with debris, and Red Cross volunteers are following road-clearing crews as they open roads - giving them access to people isolated by the storm, Anderson said.
With all the personnel deployed in the Southeast, it's a challenge to keep enough staff in Central Missouri to respond to local emergencies, Anderson said.
For example, a fire overnight Monday destroyed an Iberia home. No one was injured, but the American Red Cross had to respond to help find housing for the single occupant of the home Tuesday morning.
It's also important to have enough money available to pay for all the services disaster victims need.
In 2011, the local chapter - which then was known as the Capital Area chapter - held a telethon to help provide relief for people affected by the deadly tornado that struck Joplin. In 2001, the chapter was part of a national telethon that provided relief after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
The phone bank experienced a lull in incoming calls late Tuesday morning, so volunteers began reaching out to individuals and companies who have helped with programs in the past.
"Ninety-one percent of every dollar raised goes toward disaster relief," Anderson said. "And if anyone has a specific request, we do whatever we can to honor that intent."
Red Cross volunteer Tiwan Lewis, of Jefferson City, rides the bus to get around town. The disaster team duty officer had to make three transfers to get from east Jefferson City to the Red Cross office at 3230 Emerald Lane. She had to do the same to return before her child got home in the afternoon.
Lewis became a volunteer after her own home burned last winter, she said. After receiving four calls about donations Tuesday, she began filling out "thank you" cards for callers.
"I feel like I have to give it back," she said.
Another volunteer call-taker, Jodi Waltman, of Rolla, is a retired public health nurse. She has volunteered for the organization for about eight years. She also felt like manning the phone bank was a way to assist people in need.
Waltman, who responded to Hurricane Harvey, said she was upset she couldn't deploy to this year's disasters but was thankful to be able to answer phones and send notes to donors.
As the phones continued to ring, Anderson said she appreciated the generosity of central and northern Missouri.
"We're looking forward to working with a lot of first-time donors," Anderson said. "It's a pretty steady flow (of calls). Every dollar helps - whether a corporate gift or an individual gift."