Texas Red Cross volunteers deploy to La.

[TexasStooge]

By KIMBERLY DURNAN / The Dallas Morning News

Surrounded by bedrolls, overnight bags and flashlights and wearing the easily identifiable red and white vests, a small group of American Red Cross volunteers from North Texas prepared Monday to deploy to Louisiana to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Some were experienced, while others were heading toward their first assignment. Several said they were ready to see the worst but were buoyed by the idea of helping people in need.

The team was expected to be gone anywhere from one to three weeks. The first task was to reach Orange, Texas, on the Louisiana border, to load and stock several emergency response vehicles. The ambulance-shaped vehicles can provide food for 150 to 200 people.

Team leader Rodney Looney, 45, of McKinney said he expected to encounter a lot of damage, extensive flooding and hot, muggy conditions with no electricity. But he was in no way overwhelmed by what the seven team members will face.

“We could work 16-hour days. All day. All night. Whatever they need,” said Looney, who was deploying to his third disaster. “It makes you feel good to help people who lose all their belongings and to let them know somebody cares.”

E.C. Green, 69, of Weatherford joined the American Red Cross in June. Monday was his second deployment.

“I’m ready to go,” he declared. “The reason why I joined this thing is to help people. I feel good about that.”

The American Red Cross’ Dallas-area chapter already had sent a strike team of about 15 volunteers to Alexandria, La., where they will operate from a warehouse stocked with food and cleaning kits.

After dealing with several hurricanes last season, the agency made some changes to move volunteers and supplies closer to the storm so it will be easier and quicker to dispense aid after the rain subsides, spokeswoman Anita Foster said.

"We learned a lot of lessons from last season's hurricanes," she said. "We had lost so much infrastructure and streets, that we had a hard time getting food and supplies into the areas that needed it. So now we are getting closer to the disaster, but still keep our people safe."

The warehouse contains hundreds of thousands of ready-to-eat meals that require no electricity to prepare. The warehouse also contains shovels, rakes and tarps to help residents’ cleanup efforts, Foster said.

Anyone who has ever volunteered has been called to go, and those who agree likely will be sent on a rotating basis.

"Our volunteers are so brave," Foster said. "We call them up and tell them that we don't know where they are going or how long they will be there, and ask them if they can volunteer. This is the most frightening storm seen on the radar in a long time and they will leave their families and go."

Foster noted that the organization is requesting that donors give money, rather than goods.

Keller resident Kaye Sonoski, 62, who was leaving for her first assignment, said she was prepared to undertake damage assessments, mass feedings and mass care.

“I just got my ID tag and I’m ready to go. I’m excited about it,” she said. “I do know what to expect. I’m prepared to deal with anything, even if snakes crawl around my feet.”

Kayleen Allen’s pregnant daughter, son-in-law and four grandchildren of Slidell, La., were riding out the storm at her Grapevine home. Meanwhile, the 58-year-old Red Cross volunteer was heading out.

“We traded places,” Allen said. “She’s at my house and I’m going to Louisiana.”

As the team prepared to depart, Keith Vigil, the disaster action team coordinator, called out advice and encouragement.

“When you guys get there,” he said, “you will have to be flexible and prepared to do anything they ask you to do.”