Ohio Red Cross volunteers head toward Hurricane Idalia

CLEVELAND — The American Red Cross of Northern Ohio said six volunteers are heading toward Florida to help those affected by Hurricane Idalia in the coming days.

They are among 400 Red Cross disaster responders going toward the storm, who will provide relief to those affected by Hurricane Idalia.

The American Red Cross of Northern Ohio also said six volunteers are still in Hawaii and California, assisting residents who were affected by the wildfires and floods.

In addition to the Red Cross volunteers, Ohio Task Force 1 has also been activated to stage ahead of Hurricane Idalia. The team departed early Tuesday morning from Vandalia.

Matthew 25: Ministries, a humanitarian organization in Blue Ash, is also collecting donations to send to those who may be affected by Idalia. Donations can include:

The organization is also accepting monetary donations that can be submitted online or sent in the mail to 11060 Kenwood Rd. in Blue Ash, Ohio.

Idalia finally became a hurricane early Tuesday morning. It's expected to strengthen and hit the Florida coast Wednesday. Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings are in effect for portions of the Florida Gulf Coast and many counties are under a state of emergency.