Additional Volunteers Head North To Help Ice Bound Arkansans
Disaster Crews Fan Out Across the Northern Counties for Added Relief
January 29, 2009 – LITTLE ROCK -Crews from central and southern Arkansas have joined Red Cross workers in shelters across northern Arkansas.
- Herman DeKlerk, and Ragavan Mahadevan. M.D. from the American Red Cross of Greater Arkansas will depart this evening to Jonesboro to provide shelter assistance at the state run shelter at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center. Herman is responsible for damage assessment for disasters and worked as night manager of the Hurricane Gustav shelter at the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, Little Rock this past spring.
- Smitty Dedman and Vi Daniels departed from the Southeastern Arkansas Chapter in Pine Bluff for Mountain Home with a kitchen support trailer. The trailer is stocked with needed equipment to run the various kitchens and feeding locations for residents without power.
- Registered Nurse Laurie Gent and Kevin Rowell, PhD is enroute to Harrison to serve as nurse and mental health worker. Both have worked disaster relief after tornadoes in Arkansas and hurricanes including Katrina, Gustav and Bonnie. Kevin also provided mental health care after the World Trade Center explosion.
- Charles Lewis, James Kelly, and Duane and Marilyn Girton, Mass Care workers from the Faulkner County Service Center in Conway are headed to Mountain Home. They will work in shelters providing care and tending to the comfort needs of the displaced residents. Christina Reeves will go to Harrison.
Arkansas Red Cross workers have played a pivotal role in numerous national disasters this past year from the series of tornadoes and floods affecting Arkansas, to responding to this past summer’s Midwest Floods and hurricanes affecting residents along the Gulf Coast.
A Generous Spirit
“These volunteers are the backbone of what makes the Red Cross special,” explained Roger Elliot, Lead State Disaster Officer. “Each of these volunteers joins the many already in place who give of their time and talent to relieve the discomfort of others.”
Elliot stated they are going on what is described as a “hardship deployment” due to the harsh conditions of the area without power and basic comforts in many areas. “Communication is difficult and workers are needing to make three or four steps to maneuver through taxing working conditions we all take for granted such as having good cellular connections or continual electrical power or a comfortable place to sleep.”
“It’s not a vacation by any means”, according to Elliot, “Each of them understands the difficulty is temporary and the payoff is enormous.” Our volunteers are quick to tell you they always receive more from the people they care for, so once they go out to help others they’re hooked.”
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
Posted by amrecro 
