Local Red Cross volunteers respond to help Gulf Coast residents in path of Hurricane Isaac

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – American Red Cross volunteers from throughout the California Northwest region are helping people of the Gulf Coast face Hurricane Isaac.

They come from Arcata, Crescent City, Eureka, Kelseyville, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Ukiah, and they all are on their way, or are already on the ground, in areas that are preparing for the hurricane’s worst impact.

The trained volunteers have been deployed to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, the Red Cross reported.

Just as with Hurricane Katrina, seven years ago, the American Red Cross is helping people in their time of need. Shelters are open for voluntary evacuations, prior to landfall, and anticipated rains may soon force more people from their homes.

Volunteers already are serving hundreds of meals a day, as well as providing safe places to stay, health services and emotional support to those riding out the storm.

On Monday evening, nearly 800 people found a safe haven in 52 shelters open in five states. In addition, the Red Cross has mobilized 2,400 disaster workers, prepositioned 290,000 ready-to-eat meals and activated 187 emergency response vehicles from across the country to help.

The Red Cross also is coordinating with multiple partners including a variety of civic groups, advocacy organizations, professional organizations and houses of worship to share their expertise and volunteers.

To find an open Red Cross shelter, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). iPhone and Android users can download a free Red Cross shelter app from the app store.

People can help those affected by disasters like Hurricane Isaac, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief:

• at www.redcross.org (national Red Cross web site) or www.arcsm.org (Red Cross web site for Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties);
• by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767);
• texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation;
• U.S. mail: American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018;
• American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403;
• At local Red Cross chapters.