January 18, 2023 3:40 a.m.

With the rain finally ending in California after nine consecutive atmospheric rivers off the Pacific Ocean saturated the state since New Year’s Day, the American Red Cross has responded.

A release said the back-to-back storms may leave behind more than a billion dollars in damage up and down the state after the devastating flooding, more than 500 landslides, closed highways, sink holes and damage to infrastructure.

The Red Cross said this will be the first billion-dollar disaster this year following the 18 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2022. As the number of climate-related disasters goes up, more people are depending on the organization. During 2020 and 2021 alone, the Red Cross dealt with a new, major disaster response every 10 days with volunteers continuously on the ground. Their work included setting up shelters, arranging for hot meals, and sheltering thousands of people with no place else to go.

More than 600 Red Cross disaster workers, including 11 from the Cascades Region, are helping people with a stay place to stay, food to eat, relief supplies, emotional support and comfort.

So far, the Red Cross has 80 shelters, more than 7,100 shelter stays, and over 31,000 meals and snacks. The organization said it will be in California for weeks to come, supporting people as they continue to recover from the storms.

To help the work of the Red Cross in disaster relief, go to www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a donation. To assist people specifically in California, write “California storms & floods” in the memo line of a check and jail it to the local Red Cross chapter.

Those who want to give their time as a Red Cross volunteer can attend an open house at the Red Cross at 870 Northeast Alameda Avenue in Roseburg. Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.