Red Cross accepts help from rookie volunteers
By ANNE MARIE APOLLO, amapollo@naplesnews.com
September 1, 2005

Inundated by offers from those wanting to travel to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans to help with recovery, the American Red Cross of Lee County Thursday found itself in an unusual position. Instead of telling callers it would limit aid sent only to those with a background with the disaster relief agency, it began processing "spontaneous volunteers," said Executive Director Heidi Ruster.

A first in its history, the development stems from the incredible need for aid emerging along the Gulf Coast, where reports out of Louisiana and Mississippi grow increasingly grim. Ruster said the Red Cross sent two more volunteers to aid efforts yesterday. Many more are on standby. Lee County Emergency Medical Services early Wednesday sent two vehicles and seven workers to assist with recovery, said spokesman Paul Filla. The team was expected to reach Tallahassee by midnight, where it would be deployed into hurricane-damaged areas, he said. Other emergency workers in the area remained on standby.

Christie Knudsen, technical information specialist for the Southwest Florida Urban Search and Rescue task force, said the local team is one of only two that remain in the state. Other workers from around the state have been deployed to assist in rescue efforts and search for victims in collapsed buildings. The Southwest Florida team will likely stay here, she said, and be available to respond to emergencies that occur within the state. According to the Florida State Emergency Response Team, as of Wednesday afternoon 136 people trained in search and rescue had been deployed to Mississippi. Another 70 emergency workers in various capacities also had been sent from the state.

For some, it is their job. Others, like those approaching the Red Cross with offers of aid, will go as volunteers. Ruster said the Red Cross is trying to emphasize to those people the seriousness of the situation they will encounter. Emergency officials are calling the scene in New Orleans and other ruined cities potentially the worst natural disaster seen by the country in modern times. Volunteers will be heading into areas where there is no electricity and stay in shelters with storm refugees, Ruster said. The Salvation Army in Fort Myers is taking volunteers, too, though at this point work is needed here to process
incoming applications, officials there say.

Both the Red Cross and the Salvation Army also are making nationwide appeals for cash. Many local fundraising efforts also have emerged this week. Naples Daily News
Among them:
• The Southwest Florida Community Foundation is collecting funds to assist the local Salvation Army and Red Cross
chapters in providing Hurricane Katrina Relief. Donations to the local fund may be mailed to Hurricane Katrina Fund,
Southwest Florida Community Foundation, 8260 College Parkway Suite 101, Fort Myers, FL 33919
• The Fort Myers Miracle at its Saturday game will accept hurricane relief items, including monetary donations,
clothing, blankets and diapers. Food is not being accepted. All donations will be given to American Red Cross. For
more information, please call the Miracle office at 768-4210 or log on to www.miraclebaseball.com.
• Collier County Domestic Animal Services will be holding two fund-raisers for the Humane Society of the United
States for hurricane relief. Donations will be accepted at a bake sale from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Collier
County Domestic Animal Services, 7610 Davis Blvd. in Naples, and Wednesday at 11 a.m. the main Collier County
Government Complex Building F, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail.
• Fifteen Hurricane Katrina Relief donation centers have been established by the American Red Cross of Collier
County, working with The Lutgert Companies. Donation locations include 26811 South Bay Drive, Suite 220 in Naples and 1395 Panther Lane, Suite 100 in Bonita Springs.

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