VALDOSTA —
As the ninth named storm of hurricane season threatens the quality of life for an estimated 60 million people in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, the American Red Cross has been mobilizing around Sandy’s potential impact areas and urging citizens to continue their donations as we approach the final month of hurricane season.
At least 69 deaths have been attributed to the super storm as it ripped through the Caribbean last week, according to Monday report from ABC News. And as the storm looms over the nation’s most populated regions, Executive Director Terri Jenkins of Red Cross’ South Georgia chapter, said the non-profit has been scrambling its units and shoring up their supplies.
Nearly 100 Red Cross emergency vehicles have been mobilizing to distribute meals and relief supplies for the storm’s aftermath, said Jenkins. She said the Red Cross’ Flint River and South Georgia Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) have already been dispatched to potential impact areas in the South.
“The South Georgia Chapter of the Red Cross is assisting by sending the Emergency Response
Vehicle and volunteers to Ashburn, Va., to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. They left Monday, October 29,” said Jenkins.
The storm has caused the cancellation of Red Cross blood drives in the region, said Jenkins. More cancellations are expected, which has resulted in the loss of several hundred units of blood and platelets so far, she said.
“The Red Cross has also shipped blood to hospitals in the affected areas in advance of the storm as patients will still need blood and platelets despite the weather,” said Jenkins. “If anyone is eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, they are asked to please schedule a blood donation now.”
Georgia Power has been standing by as well, according to Georgia Power Spokesman John Kraft. Well over 300 Georgia Power employees have formed two teams and have been staging outside of Sandy’s expected impact areas in Richmond, Va. and Rahleigh, N.C., said Kraft.
“Georgia Power is part of a mutual assistance network, which is an agreement of sorts between us and other utilities,” said Kraft. “There are large conference calls between member utilities, where some utilities state their needs and others state what they can loan. In regard to this relief efforts, we’re assigned to the Baltimore, Md. area.”
The Red Cross has sent thousands of ready-to-eat meals and relief supplies into the region, according to Senior Vice President, Charley Shimanski, of the Red Cross’ Disaster Services. But the non-profit still needs more support, he said.
“This will be a large, costly relief response and we need help now,” Shimanski said. “People can help by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief online, by text or by phone.”
To donate to the relief effort, visit www.redcross.org online, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the local Red Cross chapter at 509 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Ga. 31601 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Sea water floods the Ground Zero construction site, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain.� (AP Photo/ John Minchillo) The Associated PRess
Discussion
South Georgia moves to help Sandy’s victims
- Local News
-
-
Gornto extension half complete
The Gornto Road extension project is more than half-way complete, and could be finished ahead of the one-year deadline contractors were given when the project was approved Oct. 11 by the Valdosta City Council.
-
Nashville honors history, musical tradition
There were more than a few Nashville residents and guests from out of town fiddlin’ around Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of the Georgia Humanities Council and Smithsonian New Harmonies exhibit, celebrating roots music from the state and across the Deep South.
-
Locals, out-of-towners come out for food, fun at Peach Festival
The Morven Peach Festival drew a smaller crowd than usual in its 26th year, but planners weren't complaining.
-
Coliform found in drinking water
The cause of a water quality issue is still under investigation by the City of Valdosta Utilities Department after a water sample taken from a line in the area near the intersection of St. Augustine Road and West Hill Avenue tested positive for coliform bacteria.
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport — the country’s biggest air terminal for packages — goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
-
Preparing South Georgia for a disaster
A pair of specialized urban rescuers shed some of their protective gear for a moment and exchange relieved smiles because, on the roads across the swamps of residential rubble, a caravan of Lowndes citizens returns to a county that, according to Lowndes officials, was able to repair its wounds in the aftermath of a Category 5 storm due to a dynamic package of disaster plans.
-
Valdosta police honor Moody security force
Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress awarded a set of challenge coins Friday to 12 members of Moody Air Force Base’s security forces. The coin ceremony served as a thank-you from the Valdosta Police Department for the base’s operational support in handling bomb threats and helping in community matters.
-
Charges filed in bomb threat made from jail
A pair of inmates received additional charges this week when they reportedly phoned a bomb threat from the Lowndes County Jail to South Georgia Medical Center Tuesday, according to the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Echols deputies seize a half-million in pot
A public indecency call late Friday afternoon led to the seizure of a marijuana grow house, 38 mature plants, and the arrest of an Echols County man, according to the Echols County Sheriff’s Office.
-
Weekend Update: Morven Peach Festival
News reporter Caitlin Barker speaks to representatives Sandy Rentz and Dawana Nunnally from the Morven Peach Committee, about the Peach Festival taking place this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The band Trailer of Tears will play from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., followed by a parade taking place at 2 p.m.
- More Local News Headlines
-
