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New Iberia council proclaims March as Red Cross Month and hears call for local volunteers
Summary
Micah Nicholas of the American Red Cross asked the New Iberia City Council to proclaim March as Red Cross Month, outlined the organization's local volunteer capacity across 22 parishes, and provided contact information for residents interested in training and volunteer response.
Micah Nicholas, executive director for the American Red Cross office covering 22 parishes in southwest Louisiana, asked the New Iberia City Council to proclaim March as Red Cross Month and urged the city to help recruit local volunteers.
"We realized a long time ago that in order for us to continue to be sustainable in helping families to respond and recover from disasters, we have to incorporate the community into them," Nicholas said, describing a push to increase trained, local volunteers who can respond quickly to house fires and other emergencies. He told the council about the Red Cross’s local volunteer base and said roughly 90% of the workforce in Louisiana is volunteers.
The mayor presented a proclamation and thanked the Red Cross for its work. Nicholas gave a local contact line and website for volunteers: redcross.org/louisiana and direct line (337) 357-0284, and said staff would follow up on volunteer interest.
Why it matters: The Red Cross’s local volunteer network supplements municipal emergency response, especially during hurricanes, house fires and other disasters. Local volunteers often arrive faster than external teams and provide immediate assistance while larger-scale resources are mobilized.
The council did not take formal public comment opposing the proclamation and the mayor indicated the proclamation would be issued. The Red Cross representative said he was available to answer follow-up questions from council members and residents.
