Mainers head to Texas to help Harvey flooding victims

PORTLAND (WGME) -- As hundreds of thousands of people across Texas deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, a handful of Mainers are making the cross country trip to help with the relief effort.

One of the five Mainers leaving for Texas says that she's thankful to be able to help with cleanup.

[Related: Photo shows Texas nursing home residents submerged in Harvey floodwaters]

"I am so anxious to get down there and help people and do what I can,” Ruth Lathrop, Red Cross volunteer, said.

For Lathrop, the journey from Portland to Houston is only just starting, but it's felt like a lifetime.

"I’ve been trying to get there since Friday, and haven't had luck with flights, but this morning I’m flying into Austin, so I should be able to get there,” Lathrop said.

[Related: Trump to visit Tropical Storm Harvey-ravaged Texas Tuesday]

Lathrop is one of the five Mainers out of a total 125 New England Red Cross members who are making the trip, and she says every volunteer counts.

"From what I see on TV, they need all the help they can get,” Lathrop

[Related: Texas governor: 'Our top priority is to protect human life']

The volunteers will help people dealing with flood damage and try to get them back on their feet.

The Red Cross says this is the largest relief effort in over a decade, and they already expect more to be sent.

"They are deploying a few more people today from Maine. All the help that we can get down there will be needed,” Lathrop said.

The other Mainers that are expected to be helping out should be headed out over the next couple weeks.

You can donate to the Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or you can text the word "Harvey" to 90999 to make an automatic $10 donation.

You can also donate online at RedCross.org.