Red Cross volunteers from Tucson head to Louisiana

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TUCSON (KVOA) – Volunteers from the American Red Cross of Southern Arizona are on site in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida hit the state last weekend.

The organization sent 32 volunteers from Arizona – 11 from Tucson. However, that number is fluid as volunteers come and go.

Red Cross officials say volunteers could be on-site in the state in the long run.

“It could take a few months. If you just look at how much damage Hurricane Ida is doing in Louisiana,” said Courtney Slanaker, executive director of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Volunteers pledge to be on site for 10-14 days, and they work on all fronts – housing, meals, providing health services, filling out prescriptions. Ardis Wait is a retired nurse and has already been on duty.

“This time we’re going to be used to drive an ERV, which is a feeding vehicle,” said Wait. “So when we go to cook food, we drive around the streets and feed them.”

The Red Cross is still working on rebuilding the communities long after the first disaster.

“It’s been on the news for a few weeks now, but it’s the long-term recovery of people who have to rebuild their lives from scratch,” Slanaker said.

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