LA GRANDE — Union County volunteers who want to assist flood victims in Umatilla County can join emergency relief agencies already working on the ground there. 

This will maximize the volunteers’ effectiveness and ensure their safety, said Tom Roberts, Umatilla County’s emergency manager. Roberts said Thursday those who want to assist should contact the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse or Team Rubicon to be assigned to sites where help is needed, learn about the precautions they need to take and receive tools and safety supplies.

Roberts said volunteers “are exposed to danger” at flood sites.

Hazards include structures now fragile after being hit by floodwaters. 

“The integrity (of some structures) has been weakened,” Roberts said. 

Hard hats are thus needed in some situations to protect people from falling debris. Mold now flourishing in moist environments is another major concern. Roberts said relief workers should wear mold masks, which the agencies provide.

Samaritan’s Purse is among the groups providing the masks and other safety equipment. The nondenominational Christian disaster relief organization addresses mold and other hazards at safety meetings for volunteers daily at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Pendleton First Assembly of God Church, 1911 S.E. Court Ave. The meetings are must-attend events before crews head to homes and other sites to do cleanup work. A leader from Samaritan’s Purse heads each group, which is equipped with a trailer to haul supplies. 

“It provides all the tools you need,” said Brittany Hargrove of Cove, who accompanied a group of about half a dozen from the Imbler Christian Church on Monday to help flood victims in Umatilla County.

Hargrove said volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse also are provided with orange shirts clearly identifying them as individuals assisting the agency.

“They make it easy for people to recognize us,” she said.

The Imbler church volunteers and others have been busy with tasks ranging from ripping out wet carpet to shoveling mud from under modular homes. Hargrove said the locals her party assisted were grateful for the help they received, including one woman who was visibly touched.

“She got pretty emotional,” Hargrove said. “She could not believe that so many people were coming to help.”

The Imbler Christian Church party worked in Umatilla County for eight hours.    

“It was tiring, but it was also energizing because we were in such good company,” Hargrove said.

Melissa Nystrom of Samaritan’s Purse responds to disasters around the world. She said her agency has 30-40 volunteers a day assisting with flood recovery in Umatilla County. Nystrom appreciates the assistance and said more are always welcome.    

“We have tools and and supplies — we just need hands,” she said.

To sign up as a Samaritan’s Purse volunteer for Umatilla County, go to the organization’s website, spvolunteer.org.   

Individuals interested in assisting flood victims with Team Rubicon can do so via its website, teamrubiconusa.org.  Team Rubicon is a veteran service organization that regularly is involved in disaster response. 

To join an American Red Cross volunteer team in Umatilla County, apply via its website, redcross.org. Nadine McCrindle, executive director of the Eastern and Central Oregon Chapter of the American Red Cross, said she has been impressed with how many people have stepped up to volunteer to help Red Cross teams in Umatilla County over the past weeks.

“It is heartwarming to see how people are reaching out to their neighbors.” McCrindle said.