Back MEDIA ADVISORY WHAT: Joseph C. White, CEO of the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter, will deploy to Baton Rouge to serve as Organization Administrator for Red Cross Disaster Relief Headquarters for Louisiana. Joe is serving as one of seven administrators managing Red Cross relief efforts across Louisiana. This deployment marks the second national assignment for Mr. White who also served as Shelter Manager in Florida during the 2004 hurricane relief effort. The Baton Rouge assignment is the next step in a larger plan to prepare Mr. White to eventually serve as a Level V Job Director, one of the highest disaster relief positions in the Red Cross. Over the past five weeks, Mr. White has led hurricane relief operations here in St. Louis. The St. Louis Area Chapter has operated two service centers for evacuees since August 31. To date, over 5,102 people who made their way to St. Louis from affected areas have met with Red Cross caseworkers; Red Cross has provided shelter, food, clothing, prescription medication, mental health counseling and more based upon individual needs. Direct aid disbursed through the St. Louis Area Chapter now exceeds $1.45 million. WHEN: Mr. White is available for interviews Friday, September 30 and can be available for brief interviews at Lambert Airport on Sunday, October 2.  To schedule an interview, please call 314.406.1920. WHERE: Friday, September 30: American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Headquarters 10195 Corporate Square Drive – Creve Coeur, MO Sunday, October 2:  Lambert International Airport WHY: The American Red Cross is here to help the public prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.  The St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross maintains a group of trained volunteers on standby for deployment as needed; currently over 170 people are available for immediate deployment. These volunteers receive formal training in establishing and managing disaster shelters and providing a variety of care that includes food, clothing and mental health counseling for disaster victims. Volunteers understand that a deployment can last as long as three weeks. The St. Louis Area Chapter is part of the nationwide network of support comprised of nearly 900 Red Cross chapters that supply volunteers, staff and equipment to support large-scale disaster relief operations. For more information regarding the emergency services provided by the American Red Cross, local residents are encouraged to call the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or visit the Chapter’s website at www.redcrossstl.org. # # #

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