Fenton Man Part of Red Cross Crew as Tropical Storm Isaac Pushes to Shore

Twenty-four Red Cross volunteers for the Greater St. Louis Region, including Robert Vinluan, of Fenton, are headed south to assist in relief efforts as Tropical Storm Isaac continues its push into the Gulf of Mexico.

As hurricane warnings have been issued for portions of the Northern Gulf Coast, local volunteers are heading to Louisiana, Alabama and Florida. Vinluan is going to Alabama to assist in Red Cross efforts there.

The Red Cross is preparing for what could be a large disaster response across multiple states over the next several weeks. “Dozens of our local volunteers and staff members are hard at work both here in our region and along the Gulf Coast,” said Cindy Erickson, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, in a news release. “It’s a really good example of how we are all ‘one’ Red Cross, working together wherever the need may be, to make sure people’s immediate needs are being met in the wake of a disaster.”

So far the Red Cross has deployed more than 1,000 disaster workers throughout Florida. About 20 shelters are already open in the state and the organization is prepared to open more if necessary. The Red Cross is also positioning trained disaster workers and relief supplies along the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana and Alabama. More than half of the Red Cross nationwide fleet of 300 emergency vehicles have already been deployed or are on alert to respond to the area.

HURRICANE APP

For more information on hurricane safety, people may download a free Red Cross Hurricane App for mobile devices. It puts real time information at their fingertips. The app features information on Red Cross shelters and a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm. The one-touch “I’m Safe” button lets someone use social media outlets to tell family and friends they are okay. People across the country planning to travel to areas that could get hit with the storm can use the app to receive weather alerts.