Red Cross volunteers have been involved with the Hurricane Florence Relief Operation since before the storm made landfall last week, including two McKean County residents.

Paula Pierce of Kane and Tony Varone of Lewis Run have been deployed to South Carolina to serve as shelter associates.

It is estimated that 10 trillion gallons of water fell across the Carolinas, causing historic flooding in many locations. While the water is subsiding in many areas, other areas are still at risk with waterways not expecting to crest for several days.

On Wednesday night, there were still 5,600 people staying in shelters in North Carolina and South Carolina. As estimated 88,000 homes have been impacted by the storm.

The Red Cross continues to provide shelter and feeding support across the area. Our volunteers are also assisting with the mass distribution of products and supplies and are working to ensure that the health and mental health needs of area residents are being met.

So far, more than 3,600 Red Cross volunteers from across the country have taken part in the relief effort. A total of 45 volunteers are from the 50-county American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region — 27 are from western Pennsylvania.