AREA RED CROSS SENDS VOLUNTEERS, VEHICLE TO NEW ORLEANS

Two Red Cross volunteers from Southeast Missouri left Cape Girardeau in an emergency response vehicle Tuesday night, bound for flood-ravaged New Orleans.

Glenna Sherron of Dexter and Curtis Mathes of Farmington will represent the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross in efforts to help victims in New Orleans, which was hit with heavy rains and tornadoes Monday night.

The emergency vehicle, which can be used to transport food, water and supplies to masses of people, is owned by the American Red Cross but is maintained by the local chapter.

"They place them strategically throughout the U.S. so that in the event of a disaster they can be deployed easily," said Mary Burton, executive director of the Southeast Missouri chapter.

Volunteers commit to two weeks, and at most stay three weeks. "In disaster work you can't take much more than that," Burton said. "You're under a lot of stress and pressure."

Nineteen emergency response vehicles from all over the country converged on Cape Girardeau during the Flood of '93.