As floodwaters surged with Hurricane Harvey, Dan Christopulos was among the first wave of Minnesotans to hit the soggy turf of Texas.
He led a team that sent counselors to help the 10,000 homeless people swelling a Houston convention center, tracked down churches to discuss home repair, and drove a van packed with water pumps, shovels and tools to clear out mud-drenched homes.
Now Minnesota volunteers and supply trucks also are heading for Florida and the southeastern U.S., where Hurricane Irma is expected to hit this weekend, possibly followed by Hurricane Jose.
As of Friday, the American Red Cross was planning to send 20 Minnesotans to Florida to help those hurt by Irma. Gov. Mark Dayton announced that a team of 16 emergency management specialists from public safety departments across Minnesota would be in Florida for two weeks.
Other Minnesotans — from faith-based groups and charities to businesses and ordinary citizens — have been gearing up.
"Another 13 pallets of diapers, three pallets of baby wipes, 30 cartons of shampoo and conditioner are scheduled to arrive by the end of the week," said a weary Christopulos, national coordinator for International Orthodox Christian Charities and board president of the Minnesota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).
Nearly 60 Red Cross disaster relief workers have deployed to the Texas Gulf Coast as part of the organization's massive mobilization in Harvey's wake. A dozen volunteers from the Salvation Army are also on the ground in Texas. Volunteers from both agencies are staffing food trucks, and Red Cross staff members are working in emergency shelters.
Both have launched national fundraising campaigns.