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SE Ohio Red Cross Responds To Emergency Issac Calls
< < Back toThe effects of Tropical Storm Isaac are as far-reaching as Southeast Ohio as area Red Cross chapters look for ways to help storm victims.
The storm was downgraded from hurricane status Wednesday afternoon.
Jane Patton, director of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Ohio chapter, says the agency's national headquarters has put out a call asking all local chapters to send help to places where the storm has done the most damage.
"This is going to be a very long term disaster I'm sure, there is a lot of flooding this is a slow moving storm and so the devastation is going to last for many weeks, it will be very expensive and all the local chapters are collecting money," said Patton.
Not only are the chapters collecting money, but Patton says they are locating manpower to go down and help with recovery from the storm.
"When we get that information, we will search for someone locally who has the training to go and is willing to go and then we will send other people," said Patton.
Patton says already some local volunteers have responded to the call.
"We have deployed two local volunteers: one flew down and I believe that he is in Mississippi and the other one drove our emergency response vehicle and I believe that he is now in Alabama," said Patton.
Even though Isaac is weakening as it moves, forecasters say the storm is still packing a powerful punch. The Associated Press is reporting nearly half of the state of Louisiana is without power in the wake of the storm.
Anyone who wants to help can contact their local Red Cross office.