Red Cross staffer Jack Riegel hands boxes of "comfort kits" to volunteer Mike Wood, before he heads to southern Missouri in the ERV.

I’m on the Chapter’s ERV (emergency response vehicle) heading to Cape Girardeau to provide much needed relief to the Red Cross volunteers and staff in southern Missouri who have been working around the clock for three days straight to meet residents' emergency needs.

Why am I going? Imagine the bitter cold we feel while walking from our front door to our car and while digging our cars out from six inches of snow. Could you imagine being without electricity during this time?

Unfortunately, that is what more than 90,000 people are dealing with in southern Missouri. The Red Cross recognized the need to provide a warm and safe place for people to stay, and immediately set up shelters. Last night, the Red Cross managed 14 shelters with 979 overnight stays.

Our Chapter deployed eight volunteers and staff this morning to southern Missouri to help with the relief effort. I deployed along with Red Cross volunteer, Mike Wood, in the ERV (emergency response vehicle). We are going to Cape Girardeau and then from there we will be delivering meals to the other Red Cross shelters set-up throughout southern Missouri. We also have five cases of comfort kits (which include items like shampoo, toothpaste and a toothbrush) to distribute at shelters.

We should be gone about five days, but depending on what happens our deployment could be extended or shortened. I am bracing myself for twelve-hour days and working extremely hard. I am ready to be at Cape Girardeau to get started.

Until next time,
Angela Hakim