Mike Parks has seen the worst of the worst when it comes to natural disasters.
"This storm that came thru, [Hurricane] Laura for example, was the strongest storm to hit the Louisiana coast in 150 years."
As the CEO for the American Red Cross' Northern Ohio region, Parks just got back to Cleveland after spending time coordinating relief efforts in Louisiana from the hurricane. The storm leveled the city of Lake Charles, but it's not even the only natural disaster facing the country.
Hurricane Sally just dumped over two feet of rain along the Gulf Coast, while wildfires are still burning out west.
"We have provided shelter for almost 8,000 in Washington [state], Oregon and California," Park told 3News. Around the country, close to 27,000 people."
Cleveland is spared these types of weather-related events, actually ranking as the second-safest city for natural disasters according to a recent study. However, that doesn't stop local Red Cross volunteers from jumping in and helping out, as some 60 Red Cross staff and helpers from Northern Ohio are assisting in the rescue efforts nationwide right now.
"We have seen more level 7 disasters, something like a Katrina or a Laura or those wildfires out in Oregon or big Superstorm Sandy," Parks said. "Those are kind of the Level 7 disasters that [lead us to] call in the Red Cross, and we have seen more of those in the last eight years than we have in the previous 120."
Even during the current COVID-19 pandemic, there are many ways you can help the American Red Cross, either through volunteering in your spare time or through donations.
"The Red Cross is there to assist those in need anyway we can, principally with our sheltering and feeding mission," Parks said.
To find out more about how you can help, visit redcross.org.