Central Valley Red Cross Volunteers Aid Communities After Severe Winter Storm

Local volunteers deploy to help with power outages, shelters, and disaster relief efforts across the South and Northeast.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A deadly winter storm that swept across much of the country over the weekend has left hundreds of thousands without power and dozens dead, particularly in the South, Deep South, and Northeast. While the Central Valley was spared the worst, local Red Cross volunteers are now stepping up to help communities still facing dangerous cold and widespread outages. Volunteers like Fresno resident Elvia Pacheco-Reyna, a registered nurse, and Deb Blaze of Chowchilla are deploying to areas like Nashville and Houston to assist with shelters, disaster relief, and other support.

Why it matters

The Red Cross plays a vital role in responding to natural disasters and providing aid to communities in need. As extreme winter weather continues to impact large swaths of the country, the efforts of local Central Valley volunteers demonstrate the importance of disaster relief organizations in helping people feel safe and supported during their hardest moments.

The details

More than half a million people have been affected by power outages as freezing temperatures continue across parts of the South, Deep South, and Northeast. Volunteers like Elvia Pacheco-Reyna, a registered nurse from Fresno, and Deb Blaze of Chowchilla are deploying to areas like Nashville and Houston to assist with shelters, disaster relief, and other support. Pacheco-Reyna says responding to disasters has become a calling, while Blaze has been on more than a dozen Red Cross deployments over the past three years, with the goal of alleviating human suffering in any way possible.

  • The deadly winter storm swept across much of the country over the weekend.
  • Deployments can last anywhere from several days to multiple weeks, depending on how long communities need assistance.

The players

Elvia Pacheco-Reyna

A registered nurse from Fresno who spent more than 40 years in healthcare before joining the Red Cross.

Deb Blaze

A Red Cross volunteer from Chowchilla who has been on more than a dozen deployments over the past three years.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York, who stated that an "Arctic siege has taken over our state and many other states across the nation."

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What they’re saying

“I'm heading out to Nashville. They're suffering a lot of severe storm outages, and people are being displaced. So I'm going to go help out in whatever capacity they need me.”

— Elvia Pacheco-Reyna, Registered Nurse and Red Cross Volunteer

“Being deployed to different disaster areas — it's a calling. If I can't be at the bedside, at least I'm at the side of all the individuals that need my help now.”

— Elvia Pacheco-Reyna, Registered Nurse and Red Cross Volunteer

“The skin exposure was bad. If you had skin exposed for more than 10 seconds, it was a danger of frostbite.”

— Deb Blaze, Red Cross Sheltering Supervisor

“I try to make whatever time they've got with me a little better. We got them singing and playing cards. That's my main job — to alleviate human suffering in any way I possibly can. They're my brothers and sisters.”

— Deb Blaze, Red Cross Sheltering Supervisor

“An Arctic siege has taken over our state and many other states across the nation.”

— Kathy Hochul (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

Red Cross officials say deployments can last anywhere from several days to multiple weeks, depending on how long communities need assistance.

The takeaway

The efforts of local Central Valley Red Cross volunteers demonstrate the vital role disaster relief organizations play in responding to natural disasters and supporting communities in need, especially during extreme weather events that leave hundreds of thousands without power and in dangerous conditions.