Charlotte volunteers head to Texas to help in Harvey aftermath

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The American Red Cross is flying 16 volunteers from Charlotte to Texas to help in Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath.

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“It is going to be catastrophic,” volunteer Annie Bynum said.

Bynum has been with the Red Cross for 20 years and said she has seen it all, from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina.

[RELATED: Hurricane Harvey a 'life-threatening' system as it strengthens to Category 3]

Now, she said, she is ready to help those affected by Harvey, and so are many other volunteers.

“With this assignment, and it is to be a very bad assignment, there could be well over 1,000 of us or more,” Bynum said.

The Red Cross is also sending 30 emergency vehicles to Texas, and there are several Red Cross shelters open to help thousands of people.

“I would like for everyone to pray for the victims that’s going to be affected by this storm,” Bynum said.

Samaritan’s Purse, in Boone, has enlisted thousands of volunteers to help and is sending two tractor-trailers to Texas. The group will be working alongside the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.

But right now, all the volunteers can do is position supplies and wait.

They might not be able to start helping victims for another two or three days, after Harvey passes.

“We can go out and we can do the best we can do and we realize too, once we leave, those folks are still without a home,” Bynum said.

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