PARKERSBURG - More volunteers have been sent to bolster relief efforts from Hurricane Isaac from Parkersburg, local Red Cross officials said.
Mike and Carol Kesterson left for Mississippi late Wednesday night and Megan Healy, an Americorps volunteer based in Calhoun County for the American Red Cross, is on her way to Hattiesburg, Miss., to aid in the distribution of goods, such as cleaning supplies and water, to victims, said Todd Wines, emergency services director for the Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Susan Hughes and Clemencia McCrady were deployed several weeks ago, originally to , Tampa, Fla., then to Mississippi. It's possible the Kestersons and Healy will eventually be sent elsewhere, Wines said.
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Photo by Jess Mancini
Todd Wines, left, emergency services director for the Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, watches Megan Healy sign papers in preparation of her deployment to Hattiesburg, Miss., in the Hurricane Isaac relief effort. Isaac, now a tropical storm, caused damage in the deep South.
"She (Healy) may end up going to Louisiana for a while," Wines said. "It depends on where the need us."
Hurricane Isaac came ashore earlier this week and moved inland, weakening into a tropical storm. About half of Louisiana was without electricity and in Mississippi, more than 150,000 customers were without service, Associated Press reported.
The eye of the storm missed New Orleans where there was flooding and mandatory evacuations.
Healy, who was born in Gettysburg, Pa., is making her first disaster deployment. In Calhoun County, she was involved in fire responses and disaster preparations through a grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph's Charitable Fund.
"I'm excited to help and my training," she said.
Wines anticipates additional volunteers will be deployed as time goes by to relieve those already in service.
"This is going to go on for months," said Sharon Callow, local Red Cross director.
Financial donations can be made to the Red Cross, with the information on how available at the chapter, she said.
Isaac came seven years after Hurricane Katrina touched land for the second time on Aug. 29, 2005, and caused widespread damages in New Orleans and killed about 1,800 people.
