With Hanna On Our Doorstep
I spoke with the Asheville Red Cross. I asked what are we doing and what can we do to help. Here’s the response (emphasis added is mine):
The American Red Cross deployed about 5600 disaster relief volunteers from all over the country to assist the evacuees affected by Hurricane Gustav. Fifteen of them are from Western North Carolina. Hundreds of these volunteers are being moved to Florida this weekend, as part of an estimated 2500 volunteers who will be needed for shelters, mass care and feeding there in the coming week. Other volunteers from WNC, along with Emergency Relief Vehicles (ERVs) have been deployed to assist with shelters, mass care and feeding of people affected by Hanna here in North Carolina. Many more will be leaving this weekend for Orlando, Florida’s “hot site” (Red Cross Operation Center) to prepare for Ike.
The Red Cross estimates that the massive relief effort by the Red Cross for Hurricane Gustav alone will cost at least $80 million dollars. On top of this huge commitment, the ongoing pounding by the Hurricanes of 2008 is a challenge to the country as a whole to be ready and to financially support the Red Cross in this massive effort.
Two things are needed… financial donations and committed disaster relief volunteers. On Monday, September 1, both of our national political parties sent out a plea to their supporters for financial support. $1 million was raised on that day! This is an ideal bipartisan effort!
To donate, go online to www.redcrosswnc.org and click on the “help now” button. To become a trained disaster relief volunteer, call the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter at 828-258-3888, ext. 218.
