The Centennial Chapter, which serves all of north Colorado and portions of southeastern Colorado is reaching out to every trained Red Cross volunteer eligible to work on a national disaster. “At this point, we are mobilizing the people who have gone through significant Red Cross training for just this situation,” said Jason Godinez, Response Director. “We have more than 40 volunteers with exceptional skills, and they’ll be the members who will help if available.” As of Monday noon, nine volunteers from Meeker, Craig, Greeley, Pueblo, Fort Collins and Evans have agreed to respond.

The Chapter’s Emergency Response Vehicle was deployed yesterday to the Little Rock, Arkansas staging area. Vehicles and personnel are sent to staging areas and then enter the disaster area when it is safe. Personnel are flying to Houston, Texas for staging. Untrained volunteers will not be needed at this time, Godinez added, but encouraged those who would like to help in disasters to contact the Chapter at 800-824-6615 to begin training.

Next to trained disaster responders, the organization most needs cash to provide the emergency supplies and recovery tools that the thousands of affected persons will need. Cost to the American Red Cross has not been estimated, except that it will likely exceed tens of millions of dollars.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Donors can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and thousands of other disasters across the country each year, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Call 1-800-HELPNOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund or the local Chapter may be sent to your local American Red Cross at 120 Saturn Drive, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, or 804 23rd Avenue, Greeley, CO, 80634. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org or www.coloradoredcross.org.

The Chapter will also help local residents locate medically challenged relatives affected by the disaster. Call 800-824-6615 to begin the search. Williams noted that because this is going to be such a large response, the American Red Cross must concentrate on locating those with medical problems.