Local Red Cross Volunteers Deploy to Help with Tropical Storm Isaac | Community Spirit

The American Red Cross, Columbia Region, which spans 28- counties from Aiken to Myrtle Beach, has deployed seven trained disaster volunteers to assist in relief efforts along the Gulf Coast and Florida as Tropical Storm Isaac is predicted to make landfall on the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  Additional local volunteers and five Emergency Response Vehicles are on stand-by and are expected to deploy once the storm makes landfall.

“We expect this to be a large disaster response and are prepared to help in any way we can,” said Scott R. Salemme, regional chief executive officer, American Red Cross, Columbia Region.  “We train our volunteers year-round to be ready at a moment’s notice to help when disasters strike in our backyard, as well as in areas around the country.” 

As Tropical Storm Isaac continues to make its way toward the U.S., the full force of the Red Cross is being put into action to prepare for a multi-state disaster response. Nationwide, the Red Cross has been preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac and has been mobilizing resources to potential risk areas since last Monday.

Currently there are over 1,500 volunteers from areas around the country and 150 emergency response vehicles that have been deployed to the Gulf Coast states and Florida.  In addition, mobile kitchens and truckloads of relief supplies are on the way to Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and more than 50 pre-positioned support trailers are ready with supplies. Overall, the Red Cross has opened 22 shelters and supported 20 community shelters and expects that number to continue to increase.

The Red Cross is encouraging people to download the new Hurricane App to get instant access to hurricane safety steps and weather alerts for areas in the path of the storm. The free app, launched earlier this month, can be used on both iPhone and Android platforms.

The Hurricane App can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. National Red Cross experts in health, safety and preparedness have thoroughly reviewed and field tested the information and advice provided in this app.

You can help people affected by disaster like hurricanes, floods and wildfires, as well as countless crises at home and around the country, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.