The American Red Cross is sending seven volunteers from Central Illinois, including one from Normal, to assist with hurricane relief in the East Coast's midsection.
States of emergency have been declared in Virginia and North and South Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches.
The Associated Press reports Florence could inflict the hardest hurricane punch the Carolinas have seen in more than 60 years, with rain and wind of more than 130 mph.
Red Cross Interim Regional Communication Director Amber MacGrath said Mike McKnight of Normal will serve as assistant director of logistics assigned to Virginia relief efforts.
The Red Cross volunteers coming from a 16-county region of Central Illinois are among more than three dozen disaster relief volunteers from the Central and Southern Illinois regions headed to the East Coast.
Volunteers will help open evacuation shelters, serve meals and provide health services.
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