Six American Red Cross volunteers from New Jersey will be heading to Florida as Hurricane Dorian approaches the United States.

The volunteers will be setting up shelters and giving assistance to those who will likely be evacuated from their homes as the storm worsens. They say that it is their duty to help.

"After you've been volunteering with the Red Cross you can't sit on the couch anymore,” says volunteer Laura Bielanowski.

Bielanowski and volunteer Georgette Warren signed off on deployment-paperwork at Red Cross headquarters in Fairfield Thursday. They are two of the six going to Florida.

"When you know there are people who need your help and they're so grateful and thankful, that you have to go,” Bielanowski says.

New Jersey Red Cross CEO Rosie Taravella says the most immediate needs are sheltering and logistics.

Hurricane Dorian could become a Category 4 storm, with winds of 130 mph. It has already battered the Bahamas, causing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to tell his residents to be prepared and declared a state of emergency.

"You should have seven days of food and medicine and water as part of your plan,” the governor said.

The volunteers are expected to be in Florida for two weeks, but it could be longer, depending on the severity of the storm.

Hurricane Dorian is expected to make landfall in Florida on Monday.