A San Diego-based American Red Cross emergency response vehicle with two volunteers on board left Kearny Mesa Sunday morning for South Carolina, to assist in Hurricane Matthew relief efforts.
That brings to 17 Red Cross disaster relief volunteers from the San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter to be deployed to the region, according to spokeswoman Maureen Kilkenny. Additional volunteers were expected to leave throughout the week.
The emergency response vehicle was expected to arrive in Columbia, South Carolina sometime Friday following it's five-day, 2,400 mile trip, Kilkenny said.
It's the first time since Super storm Sandy that all Red Cross ERVs in the U.S. are being deployed for one national disaster. Their main task will be to assist with those who have been displaced by the hurricane.
"When disaster strikes, whether a hurricane, tornado or home fire, American Red Cross disaster workers climb into ERVs and travel into the neighborhoods of those in need, providing food, water and comfort," Kilkenny said. "Red Cross emergency response vehicles have become an iconic image of disaster relief services."
