Red Cross, Western Arkansas Service Center

Red Cross Gather Emergency Supplies For Mena
POSTED: 11:55 am CDT April 10, 2009
UPDATED: 1:06 pm CDT April 10, 2009

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Emergency aid is already being gathered and sent to Mena. The Red Cross in Fort Smith gathered up some needed supplies Friday morning.

They were busy stocking up on primary supplies including water, tarps and toilettes.

Right now the Western Arkansas division is serving in a support role for its sister unit in southern Arkansas.

The Red Cross is sending down its disaster relief emergency response vehicles.

Friday morning, workers were stocking up on water. The Lowe's home improvement store in Fort Smith even stepped in, donating a pallet of water and tarps to help protect homes damaged by the tornado from further water damage, as rain is expected this weekend.

The Red Cross is also sending down cots, blankets and comfort kits filled with toiletries.

Susan Kafft is the director of the Red Cross Western Arkansas Service Center. She said communication in Mena was difficult, which was causing concern for those who have relatives in the area.

She said the Red Cross on the ground in Mena were working on setting up a communication network to get relatives in touch with each other.

"Right now, we've got people who've lost everything they own, and you get to a point where you don't know where to start, and so for us we'll start with the basics food and shelter: a safe warm place to stay, some things to eat and some basics," Krafft said.

The Red Cross office has been flooded with calls from people wanting to volunteer their time in Mena, but emergency crews are still trying to stabilize the situation, Krafft said.

They're asking people who want to help to donate water, tarps, blankets and toiletries. Those are the items desperately needed right now.

Those wanting to donate can drop those items off at the Fort Smith Red Cross, which is located at 1709 Greenwood Avenue.