American Red Cross deploys hundreds to southwest Florida [Video]

FORT MYERS, Fla.  — Along the west coast of Florida, hundreds of helping hands with the American Red Cross are assisting families impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Tiffany Gonzalez, communications manager for the South Florida region has been on the front lines of relief efforts since Friday.

“It is devastating and heartbreaking to see what people are going through,” Gonzalez said during a zoom interview with WPTV.

Gonzalez is just one of more than 500 volunteers who have been deployed to the epicenter of Hurricane Ian’s devastation in Lee County.

“It is insane the amount of damage that this storm has done. Hurricane Ian has pretty much just wiped out Ft. Myers,” Gonzalez said.

It’s her first disaster deployment since working with the national nonprofit for more than a year. She’s currently stationed at the Estero Recreational Center near Ft. Myers, one of three American Red Cross shelters.

“We’re seeing a …