Did the Red Cross already stock up on supplies, and are just now getting around to lining up volunteers? If they stockpiled supplies in advance, this may just be their scheduled time to line up volunteers. If they're beginning to gather supplies, then this is something new. Can you find out?
Don't know (my friend is an East Coaster and has gone to bed by now).
Just seems to me to be a bit late to line up volunteers (not like the venue wasn't known years in advance...)