AMERICAN RED CROSS PROVIDES RELIEF TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN AREA

Through a disaster relief program, the Cape Girardeau County American Red Cross Association is able to provide assistance to victims of the flooding in the area.

Mary Burton, executive director of the Cape Girardeau County American Red Cross, said the agency already has helped eight families through the program, which provides food, clothing and the first month's rent at new living quarters.

A national Red Cross plan also allows the local group to assist people who live outside the county.

"We had a family from Scott County com in who had 3 feet of water in their home," Burton said. "The woman was staying with her sister, her husband was staying with his family and the children were with other relatives. It was a really sad situation."

Along with the assitance, the Red Cross educates the people about the risks associated with living in a floodplain.

"We try to educate them through literature we have about how to clean up after a flood, what to do in a flood and then we try to counsel them that once we've helped you with your first month's rent outside the floodplain, then do not go tack into the floodplain," Burton said. "Otherwise, we just have the same people every time it floods."

She said the American Red Cross is able to help as many people as need it. For flood assistance or more information on the program contact Cape County Red Cross at 335-9471.