Red Cross River Region - Southeast Louisiana Chapter (St. Charles & St. John Parishes)

BLOG: http://redcrossselanprc.wordpress.com/

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FROM THE SITE - 5/11 MS River Floods:

2011-05-09 - Red Cross Moving Supplies To Help People Along the Mississippi River. Seeks Volunteers.

The American Red Cross is prepared for the possibility of severe flooding in the Southeast Louisiana area. Trained Red Cross workers have been in constant communication with local emergency management officials to prepare for a response if flooding occurs. The Red Cross has shelter plans and locations in place and has been distributing flood preparedness information to residents that could be impacted by flood waters.

The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to help families that might be impacted by flooding in the upcoming weeks. The Southeast Louisiana Chapter will present two shelter operations training classes. The training will help prepare volunteers for the work they will do. The first class is from 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. and the second is from 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.on Thursday May 12, 2011 at the Red Cross Bayou Parishes Regional Office, 1233 Canal Blvd. in Thibodaux, LA 70302.

To register for the training, contact Louis Truong at (504) 620-3126.

Meanwhile, Red Cross relief efforts are continuing across the South, where deadly tornadoes destroyed or damaged as many as 13,000 homes in recent weeks. The Red Cross estimates the costs of its responses to the April tornadoes, flooding and other disasters since March 31 could reach $31 million-with the response to the Mississippi River flooding expected to drive relief expenses even higher. As of Thursday, May 5, the Red Cross had raised about $16 million for disaster response since March 31.

The American Red Cross is ramping up to help people along the Mississippi River, where forecasters are predicting potentially catastrophic flooding may occur starting later this week. The Red Cross is sending trained volunteers, cots, blankets and vehicles to areas of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana threatened by the record flooding. Shelters are already opening in some parts of those states.

"The Red Cross is preparing for a large disaster response to major flooding along the Mississippi, even as we continue to assist thousands of people affected by the recent tornadoes," said Kay Wilkins, CEO of the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter. "In the coming days and weeks we will need the support of this community to help our neighbors around the country."

The Red Cross is preparing to launch a prolonged shelter and feeding operation for people living along the Mississippi, sending in disaster workers and pre-positioning thousands of cots, blankets and other relief supplies. Experts are warning that flood waters could remain in areas for as long as two weeks, forcing people to stay in shelters for more than a month.

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FROM THE CONTACT US PAGE ON THE SITE:

HEADQUARTERS
Mailing Address:
Robert W. Merrick Building
2640 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: 504-620-3105
Fax: 504-821-3748
Toll Free: 800-229-8191

REGIONAL SERVICE AREAS
NORTHSHORE REGION
Regional Office
300 Ashland Way
Madisonville, LA 70447
(985) 892-4317

BAYOU PARISHES REGION
Regional Office
1233 Canal Blvd.
Thibodaux, LA 70302
(985) 447-3229
(Mail to: P.O. Box 102, Thibodaux, LA 70302)

RIVER PARISHES REGION
Regional Office
107 Maryland Dr., Suite D and E
Luling, LA 70070
(985) 785-0647

St. Bernard Chapter
909 East Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 620-2855