Red Cross sends food to NY; experts urge emergency preparedness


6 photos
Save Story

Show 1 more video

Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — As people hit by Hurricane Sandy get more frustrated with their lack of power and basic amenities, a handful of local Red Cross volunteers are headed to the East Coast Friday night to help with the clean-up efforts.

The Red Cross is expanding its efforts, and need help as the enormity of this disaster becomes clearer. Many were not prepared for it, and as the week goes on, cars are running out of gas and people are running out of food and clean water.

So the Red Cross responds. With an emergency response vehicle, Red Cross volunteers like Vern Gillmore can provide 1,200 meals, serve water, and comfort kits in storm-ravaged areas.

The Red Cross has already deployed more than 2,000 volunteers, and deployed 245 ERVs — two thirds of the nation's fleet. And the need still grows.

"I really get excited about getting to help people when they are in serious need and most all of these people are," Gillmore said.

Gillmore worked after Hurricane Irene last year. He and the other volunteers have seen the destruction from Superstorm Sandy.

"We are learning more every day about other people who are in need of support," said American Red Cross Utah Region CEO Maxine Margaritis. "And, as soon as we hear the word, we are on our way."

Related:

"We all have more to give," said Lise Letcher, another Red Cross volunteer. "I know that I do, and so I step in and help when others need it. And, I hope that when I need it, someone will step in and help me."

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon grew up on Long Island. These pictures show damage in his mother's back yard. People call his office to ask how they can help on the East Coast. Cash and blood donations are the most valuable right now.

"The East Coast is resilient, but they need our help," Corroon said.

While most Americans can help with giving blood, these trained volunteers will spend at least two weeks in the thick of it.

"Your blood is more important than ever, and as we head into the holidays, we continue to look for blood donors," said CEO of ARC Blood Services Salt Lake Region Julis Wolf.

The Red Cross here expects to send even more volunteers as the relief effort goes on.

Still, disaster experts say that the responsibility to prepare for an emergency rests on the individual.

"Most of the stuff you need for a 72 hour kit, you have already at home, you just need to put it all together," said Be Ready Utah's Tony Wilde. He trains businesses to prepare for disasters.

He also reminds those in a disaster to be patient with the cleanup process.

"Those companies, they rely on their customers being able to get their power as well," Wilde said. "They're losing money every second that the line is not on. So their interest is to get it up and running too."

"I know it's a pain, and I know that you're really getting anxious and antsy, (asking) ‘why isn't everything back to normal?' but you just have to be patient."

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Jed Boal and Keith McCord

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast