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About 6,000 people still can't go home on the Gulf Coast because of damage done by hurricanes Ike and Gustav.
With the first wave of volunteers coming home from the hurricane region, the Red Cross wants to fast track hundreds more.
Volunteers usually train leisurely with the Red Cross. It can take months to complete. But now the organization wants to speed things along and have people ready to go in a matter of days. The first class to accomplish that is tonight.
Red Cross volunteer Dillon Larson is off to Baton Rouge. "We do mobile feeding, provide information for people in need, hand out diapers, whatever anybody needs," he explained.
This two-week deployment is his second. His first was to help with Hurricane Katrina.
"I'm young, fit, able to do it," he said. "I believe a lot of people should do more community-based work."
The Red Cross is hoping to train people like Larson by the hundreds in the coming days.
Susan Thomas, of the Utah Red Cross, said, "Six thousand people are still in shelters right now. Somebody has to open those shelters and run those shelters to help the people."
Thousands of those people still don't have power. Their homes are filled with water. Sewer systems aren't working. Drinking water can be hard to come by.
The Red Cross is pushing for fresh volunteers to replace those returning from the Gulf Coast now. It has added extra training classes and says people who can commit the time will be ready to go within days.
"We just need the bodies," Thomas said, "the people who have a golden heart, are willing and wanting to go."
The class tonight starts at 6:30. There's also one Saturday starting at 8:30. The Red Cross would like to know if you plan on being there. You can call or sign up online at the link on this page.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
