NORTH COAST, Calif. – The American Red Cross is sheltering and feeding people in 10 states who are being forced to leave their homes as major flooding hits the East Coast and fires tear through Texas.

Seven local Red Cross volunteers from Sonoma and Lake counties have joined the response, and have been deployed to locations in New York and New Jersey.

The volunteers will feed clients, provide physical and mental health services, and offer other assistance to help meet clients’ immediate disaster-caused or disaster-aggravated needs.

“We appreciate the willingness of our dedicated and skilled volunteers who are willing to drop everything here at home so that they can help others,” said Tim Miller, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties. “It’s truly inspiring, knowing that Red Cross volunteers and donors will be here for us, too, if we ever need them.”

Days of steady rain have compounded the serious problems caused by Hurricane Irene and causing new flooding. Thousands of people are being forced from their homes. The Red Cross has shelters open all over the region and is sending additional disaster workers and supplies into the area.

More than 650 people spent the night of Sept. 7 in Red Cross shelters in New York. Disaster workers are ready to help throughout Pennsylvania, where approximately 125 residents have already sought refuge in more than 20 Red Cross shelters.

Red Cross relief operations are continuing in Texas where wildfires are still burning. More than 230 people there spent Sept. 7 in Red Cross shelters, escaping the smoke and flames of the fires. Officials report more than 880 homes have already been destroyed. The Red Cross is also supporting emergency responders and people forced from their homes by serving drinks and snacks.

Relief operations are also ongoing in North Carolina, New Jersey and throughout New England where Hurricane Irene destroyed thousands of homes at the end of August. Approximately 319 people spent Sept. 7 in Red Cross shelters in those areas.

Red Cross costs for this multi-disaster response are growing by the hour. It is estimated the response to Hurricane Irene alone will cost between $10 million and $15 million.

Flood operations in Pennsylvania and New York, in addition to the large wildfire response in Texas, will add to that estimate.

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