Twelve volunteers from the Greater Long Beach Chapter of the Red Cross traveled to the Gulf states to assist in the 343 Red Cross shelters in 10 states that are providing nearly 60,000 people with food, shelter and emotional support until it is safe to go home.
Six members of this team originally volunteered during the 2005 hurricane season’s one-two-three punch of Katrina, Rita and Wilma and stayed to help. Local volunteers who joined Red Cross to help right after Katrina are spread across the Gulf helping as follows:
Having assisted in both the Iowa floods and Northern California wildfires, James Dower of Lakewood, in his third disaster in 2008, was immediately promoted to shelter manager when he arrived in New Orleans.
Rita Hooker, the nuisance abatement officer for the City of Long Beach has taken vacation to work in a shelter in New Orleans.
Jeff Jacobs, a school teacher from Long Beach, is in Hattiesburg, Miss. helping in a shelter. Jeff was recognized by Red Cross for the creative childrens’ entertainment he organized in a large Baton Rouge shelter during Katrina.
George Penn, a county manager who lives in Cerritos, is now serving as a government liaison in New Orleans.
Roy Hanson of Belmont is also in Hattiesburg, managing a bulk distribution site.
Katherine McAuley, a teacher who volunteered during Katrina, is now on a disaster assignment as a shelter worker in Hattiesburg.
Michael Kohel, a retired manager from Long Beach, is on his second disaster assignment in 2008, managing the transportation operation in Mississippi. He spent nearly three weeks helping flood victims in Iowa.
Jane Quinn of Long Beach is the mental health supervisor at a large shelter in Baton Rouge.
Richard Poulin of Downey, who was vacationing in Maine when he got the call, is now driving an emergency response vehicle in Alabama.
Virginia Acevedo, retired LAPD officer from Long Beach, has been assigned as security to a shelter in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Karen Wells, a registered nurse from Long Beach, is a new volunteer to Red Cross and is serving on her first assignment in Hattiesburg.
Chris Campbell-Jay, chapter disaster manager from Lakewood, is in Lufkin, Texas, driving a mobile feeding emergency vehicle.
Locally, the chapter’s Response Center Network (RCN) is exceptionally busy answering questions and helping thousands affected by storms. A staff of volunteers is handling many phone calls, answering any questions clients have regarding shelter locations, service center locations and how the Red Cross can help them.
To find out more about volunteer opportunities, contact the Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross at (562) 595-6341.
