Last Updated: Monday, September 8, 2008 9:14 AM CDT
Red Cross offers assistance to hurricane victims
By Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff
When hurricanes are lined up across the Atlantic working their way towards Florida, the gulf coast and the eastern seaboard, most of us in the Northwoods breathe a sigh of relief. Cool temperatures and frost on the pumpkin don’t seem so bad.
For the American Red Cross, however, a storm in the gulf makes Louisiana citizens of us all. Michelle Fenske is the Northern Tier Office Coordinator for the Red Cross in Rhinelander. “The American Red Cross is always ready to respond. Washington D.C. is the headquarters for the Red Cross. When a chapter is affected in some way, a hurricane in Louisiana for example, they call Washington. The national database, DSHR, lists volunteers from each chapter that are available to help. Washington spits out the names of those who can help, they are called and sent if still available. Right now we have an emergency response vehicle from this chapter in Baton Rouge with five volunteers.”
The vehicle is used to deliver food. The volunteers do everything from estimating damage to feeding hundreds. There are also mental health workers pto assist and nurses to tend to people’s physical needs.
People who left their homes voluntarily in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav can go back anytime. Those that were bussed have to wait a few more days.
“With more storms coming, we have put out a call for all volunteers to be on standby,” said Fenske. “There are still widespread power outages, more than 800,000 residents without power. It could be 2 to 8 weeks before power is restored. That means more than 400,000 meals must be provided each day, costing between twenty and thirty million dollars a week.
And here comes Hanna, Ike and Josephine. We expect Hanna to be a category 1, Ike a category 4. We have to be ready to feed people long-term.”
At this time Fenske is looking for corporate sponsors as well as volunteers. You can call the American Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross or go online at www.redcross.org.
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