US Red Cross adjusts storm response amid pandemic

Some disaster response organizations are changing the way they respond to incidents in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.The death toll from a tornado outbreak and storms that wreaked havoc in the Southern U.S. on Easter Sunday has risen to at least 34.

In South Carolina, the Red Cross is putting displaced families in hotel rooms rather than opening emergency shelters."We've got volunteers that are there that will screen the folks as they come in. We're also providing feeding for them at those hotels," Ben Williamson with the Red Cross of South Carolina told the Associated Press.

The organization is also assessing many damaged homes through video conferencing to meet CDC guidelines.

"We're reducing the number of those volunteer teams, maybe it's just one person going out in a vehicle. And there's going to be no face to face, in person interaction with the clients," Williamson said.

The organization had these plans in place before the storm hit and are beginning to prepare for hurricane season if this pandemic continues into June and beyond.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

(Image Credit: AP)