St. Louis, Tuesday, August 22, 2006 – The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter will recruit and train new volunteers for a unique opportunity in Louisiana during the 2006 hurricane season. As rebuilding of the state’s fragile infrastructure continues, it is important to be as prepared as possible for the landfall of a tropical storm or a hurricane along the Gulf Coast this year. New volunteer recruits will be deployed in advance of a weather-related emergency to help Red Cross chapters in Louisiana open and manage shelters should evacuations be ordered by authorities.

The Red Cross is recruiting volunteers to be on standby for two-week deployments between now and October 21. If a hurricane is projected to hit Louisiana during a volunteer’s two-week standby period, the volunteer will then deploy as part of a four-person shelter team. These teams will supplement the local Red Cross volunteers already highly trained and available for local or national disaster-relief assignments.

“The strength of the Red Cross lies in its network of more than 800 chapters across the country and the ability of our local community volunteers to help other Americans in their time of need,” said Mary Anderson, director of disaster readiness and response for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. “As part of that network of support, the St. Louis Area Chapter will begin the recruitment and training of new shelter team volunteers immediately.”

Volunteer nurses are especially needed. Every shelter team will consist of an experienced team leader, a medical professional (such as a nurse or nurse practitioner) and two additional volunteers trained in mass sheltering. All of the volunteers recruited will receive Red Cross disaster training from the St. Louis Area Chapter prior to their deployment to the Gulf Coast.

“In a time of need, St. Louisans demonstrate their willingness to step forward and offer their assistance,” said Anderson. “The Red Cross is offering this opportunity as a way for local citizens to support national relief efforts.”

The mission of the American Red Cross is to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. As part of the ongoing process of preparing for the unexpected, the Red Cross has already pre-positioned supplies and equipment to help feed and shelter thousands of people throughout the most vulnerable regions of the country. The plan to recruit and train new shelter volunteers is just one more step in that effort.

The St. Louis Area Chapter was selected by the American National Red Cross as one of 20 chapters nationwide to implement this new volunteer pilot program. The St. Louis Area Chapter was chosen for its successful and well-established volunteer recruitment programs, as well as strong disaster training and response capabilities.

About Volunteering:
For more information, or to sign up for this opportunity, please call the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2773 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance more than 407,000 times each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and 100 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter is a United Way Agency and provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois.