Officials with the Coastal Virginia Region of the American Red Cross are getting set to receive calls from area residents in need of help in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Once the roads are clear, Red Cross assessment teams will spread out through the area to begin surveying damage and determining the need for Red Cross assistance, according to Rob Shapiro, a spokesman for the organization.

Here in the Coastal Virginia Region, the Red Cross set up operations centers in Hampton, Virginia Beach and the Northern Neck. The organization has volunteer disaster teams with emergency supplies and equipment ready to respond to peoples’ needs in the community.

Those teams include disaster assessment, shelter operations, food and supplies distribution, client casework and health services, among additional Red Cross mission assignments.

On Sunday afternoon, the Red Cross was supporting 11 shelters in Hampton Roads, which provided a safe place to stay for 232 residents. Updated numbers were expected on Monday.

Officials from the Red Cross were encouraging those who could do so to help with donations of both blood and money to the disaster relief effort.

To donate money or blood for Red Cross disaster relief, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Those who wish to help the effort with financial donations can also text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to contribute $10 per text message.

For emergency assistance from the Red Cross in the Southeastern Virginia region, call 536-9859.