RED CROSS: AGENCY DOWNSIZING ITS EFFORTS AS WATERS RECEDE

Mary Burton knows when it is time to leave.

Burton, the executive director of the Cape Girardeau County chapter of the American Red Cross, said Wednesday that the agency is reducing its operations now that the floodwaters are receding.

The Red Cross is cutting back on its emergency response vehicles, those red and white trucks that have become a fixture in many Mississippi River towns this summer delivering meals in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

At one point this summer there were 15 of the vehicles. Operating out of Cape Girardeau, they were delivering more than 6,000 meals a day to flood victims and volunteers in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

"We were feeding from above Ste. Genevieve all the way down to the border in Missouri and the corresponding territory in Southern Illinois," she said.

The number of vehicles in operation was later reduced to 12. As of today two more of the vehicles are being sent back to their Red Cross chapters, leaving a fleet of 10 here, said Burton.

"We are not pulling completely out," she explained. But some areas, such as Red Star, will no longer receive regular meal deliveries, she said.

Burton said flood victims are beginning to receive financial aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and locally a food distribution center is operating.

"We are not the only ball game in town," she said.

"It is getting to the point now where people are throwing food on the ground because they don't like what is being served," said Burton.

"We are getting people calling in thinking it is take out service. They are giving us all these orders of what they want us to bring out there."

Last week two youngsters in the flood-wrecked Red Star neighborhood came up to the Red Cross truck and asked for various food items such as candy.

There was no candy being distributed. "The kids didn't like what they got and they threw the items at the truck," said Burton.

On Tuesday in the Red Star neighborhood, there was another incident of "people throwing food to the ground because they didn't like it," she said.

Burton said it's clear that there's no longer the emergency need for food that there was at the height of the flooding.

Through Wednesday the Red Cross had served 314,417 meals dating back to early July.

"Those are actual full meals," pointed out Burton. "That doesn't even account for all of the drinks and canteen items like snacks."

The Southern Baptist organization has been cooking the meals at First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. Burton said that group is now ready to start shutting down the emergency kitchen.

There will still be some meals cooked and delivered in the coming weeks, but on a very limited basis, she explained.

"As of this weekend, we are moving the (Cape Girardeau) family service center where people come in and we write out vouchers," she said.

The local Red Cross service center is currently housed at Grace United Methodist Church. There are also service centers in Ste. Genevieve and Anna, Ill. The latter two will remain open for now.

In Cape Girardeau, the Red Cross, beginning Monday, will provide assistance at its district office at 1219 N. Kingshighway.

"We are shutting down and pulling in closer and closer," she said. "It is getting to the point now that pretty soon our national operation is going to be pulling out of here.

"We have been out of the emergency phase for weeks now. It is in the recovery stage," she added.

More than 1,300 Red Cross volunteers in the Cape Girardeau County area and an equal number from out of the area have been involved in the flood relief efforts in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, said Burton.

On any given day, about 200 Red Cross volunteers have been on the job, she said.

The Red Cross service centers have aided 1,000 families from throughout the region, including more than 125 from Cape Girardeau County, Burton said.

Through the centers, flood victims have received vouchers for purchase of clothing, food and other essentials, home repairs and emergency housing.

To date, about $500,000 has been spent this summer through the voucher system, said Burton.

In all, the Red Cross has spent about $2 million in aid for the Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois district, including everything from mass feedings to financial assistance, she said.

The Red Cross aid has come in the form of private donations, she said.

In addition, more than 4,200 people have received counseling from Red Cross mental health staff, she said.

The local Red Cross chapter is now spearheading cleanup efforts, trying to match volunteers with the people who need help.

Burton said there is an "army of volunteers" who are willing to help, but right now few flood victims are contacting the Red Cross for cleanup assistance.

Part of the problem, she said, is that many flood victims have a lot of pride and are reluctant to ask for assistance.

Burton admits she's ready for a slowdown in Red Cross operations. Said Burton, "I want a life again."