Red Cross Volunteers Deploy to CO, FL Relief Effots

Five Local Red Cross
Volunteers Deploying to Colorado, Florida to Help in Disaster Operations

Will Assist in Wildfires and Tropical Storm Relief Efforts

ST. LOUIS, JUNE 26, 2012— Five local Red Cross volunteers are heading out on two national assignments to assist in disaster operations. Three will travel to Colorado, where wildfires have forced thousands from their homes. Two will travel south to Florida to assist relief efforts during Tropical Storm Debby.

The Red Cross is currently operating five shelters in Colorado. Al Boucher of Belleville will assist in Health Services, Bob Whitlow of Belleville will help transportation and Rita Determan of Swansea will work with staffing. Since June 9, the Red Cross has been operating shelters in Colorado. More than 200 disaster workers have provided more than 320 overnight stays, served more than 30,000 meals and snacks, provided more than 3,000 health and mental health consultations and distributed more than 3,800 relief items.

Walter and Denise Wallheimer of Caseyville are leaving for Florida, where 12 Red Cross shelters are open. The Wallheimers will assist in transportation operations. Trained disaster workers are distributing relief supplies such as toiletry and clean-up items, snacks, trash bags and gloves.

In just the last 24 hours, the Red Cross has opened a total of 22 shelters across the country in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Utah and Minnesota for those affected by wildfires, flooding, severe weather and family fires. For the latest information on the Red Cross response efforts, please check the Online Disaster Newsroom at http://newsroom.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Region is a proud member agency of the United Way, which makes significant investments every year in Red Cross services.

About the American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Region:

Celebrating 95 years of dedicated service in the region, more than 2,000 volunteers serve the city of St. Louis and 72 surrounding counties in Missouri and Illinois. Representing 96 percent of the workforce, they teach lifesaving classes, help prepare for and respond to disasters, help veterans, military members and their families, and support blood drives. Along with our generous donors, volunteers make it possible to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. To learn more about Red Cross programs and how you can help, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcross.org.