Volunteers head to storm-threatened areas to help victims

The aftermath might not have been as bad as Hurricane Katrina three years ago, but Hurricane Gustav still made a significant impact on the Gulf Coast region.

And with Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike right on Gustav’s tail, the southern and eastern coast of the United States are still in danger.

“The role of the American Red Cross is to provide humanitarian aid and to be on the ground quickly in the event of a disaster,” said Almitra Smith, public relations coordinator for the Greater Kansas City chapter of the American Red Cross. “We provide basic human needs such as food, water and shelter. We want to make sure no one is starving or on the streets because of a disaster.”

The Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross has sent 22 volunteers, including case workers to make disaster assessments, to the Gulf Coast. They join an estimated 3,600 Red Cross workers preparing for those who return to the storm-damaged area.

Gustav made landfall Monday as a Category 2 hurricane along the Louisiana coast. The storm did less damage than predicted, although it caused serious flooding in the region. Residents of New Orleans and other parishes were evacuated late last week to prevent the same problems associated with Katrina in 2005. More than 400,000 meals per day are expected to be served by volunteers to those who left their homes prior to Gustav.

In addition, Smith said, preparations were made in Kansas City to receive 1,000 evacuees from the Gulf Coast. Shelters were established at Kemper Arena and at the North Kansas City Community Center. She said volunteers worked to organize feeding opportunities for evacuees while contacting additional volunteers.

Although it was later decided that Kansas City would not receive any evacuees from Louisiana, the Kansas City chapter is prepared to set up shelters for anyone who self evacuated from the region.

Right on the heels of Gustav is tropical storm Hanna, which was downgraded from a hurricane Thursday. Hanna is projected to hit along the east coast early Saturday morning near the Georgia, South Carolina border. Tropical storm warnings are out from Georgia to Virginia.

Hurricane Ike, the fifth hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season, is expected to hit anywhere from north Cuba to the south coast of Florida early next week.

Smith said though the disasters are occurring outside the Midwest, there is plenty for people in the Kansas City to do in order to help victims.

“Those in need because of these hurricanes need financial assistance,” she said. “The Red Cross also needs the funds to provide food and shelter for those affected.”

Smith said an even bigger need is volunteers. Of the 22 people that have been sent to the Gulf Coast already, she said two-thirds of them started volunteering as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Currently, there are more than 700 volunteers with the Kansas City chapter.

“Volunteers make a definite difference when a disaster occurs outside the area,” she said. “They are the heart of the Red Cross. This is really a volunteer-led organization and without them, the Red Cross could not function.”

Volunteers are needed for a variety of areas such as emergency responders and even locally to help with mobile meals for the homeless, first aid stations and special events.

To become a volunteer, those interested must complete several steps including an application and interview, undergoing a background check and taking several classes to become properly trained.

“We are always looking for volunteers who really want to make an impact. We love for people to choose to become a volunteer,” Smith said. “Everyone I know who has volunteered has enjoyed it.”

For more information on the American Red Cross, to volunteer or to make a monetary donation, visit the Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross’ Web site at www.kcredcross.org. or call at 816-931-8400. Information is also available at Web site for the national American Red Cross at www.redcross.org and donations can be made at 800-REDCROSS.