LOCAL RED CROSS AIDS IN QUAKE

The local American Red Cross's emergency relief vehicle has been called to duty helping earthquake victims in California.

Mary Burton, director of the local chapter, explained that local volunteers are driving the vehicle to St. Louis where other volunteers will take over and drive it to California.

"This is much the same as other vehicles that pulled into our area to aid us during the floods and tornadoes here," Burton said. "We're now reciprocating."

The vehicle is equipped to do mass feedings. "It will provide meals to those victims who can't come to a shelter or want to stay near their home, much the same as what happened here during the flooding."

Burton said St. Louis volunteers will staff the vehicle because the Cape Girardeau chapter didn't have enough trained volunteers.

"The Red Cross needs volunteers for this type of thing," she said. "If we can train volunteers for disaster service, they could go with the vehicle. Unfortunately we did not have enough trained people able to leave on such short notice."