ROCHESTER, N.Y., March, 25, 2009—The Greater Rochester Red Cross is deploying another volunteer to Fargo, ND to help with the developing floods threatening the area. A total of three volunteers from the Greater Rochester Chapter have been called on to help.
Sarah Perkins, resident of Pittsford will leave from the Greater Rochester International Airport this afternoon. She will help with damage assessment as one of the first Red Cross responders in North Dakota.
“The American Red Cross is in a race against the clock to move food, workers, cots and blankets into Fargo before the floodwaters on the Red River crest as early as the end of this week,” said Leighton Jones, Director of Disaster & Emergency Services at the Greater Rochester Red Cross. “At this time the Greater Rochester Chapter has only been asked to send volunteers. Neighboring chapters in the midnorth are sending trailers full of items to help supply the evacuation shelters.”
Donna Demay, resident of Greece and Deveda Schleyer, resident of Pittsford left for Fargo, ND this morning to help with sheltering services.
Pre-deployment allows the Red Cross to situate volunteers and resources out of the path of the storm, in the safest areas and makes providing aid much quicker if and when it’s needed. Volunteers deployed on a National Disaster may be gone for up to three weeks.
For updates, including photos and video footage, visit the American Red Cross Disaster Online Newsroom. If you would like to help, please visit www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization—not a government agency—and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.