Monroe man deployed to hurricane disaster area

monroe —Monroe resident Bob Mahran, a trained Red Cross disaster services volunteer since 1994, was deployed to a Red Cross staging area in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday as part of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The following day he was sent to another Red Cross staging area in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to Bette Popovich, director of the Orange/Sullivan office of the American Red Cross in Greater New York based in Goshen. Mahran is currently providing "staff support" for Red Cross responders. Popovich said the best way for local people to help with the relief effort is to donate money. Donations may be made through site www.nyredcross.org, or by calling 1-800-HELP NOW. Donations (checks preferred) may be dropped off at or mailed to the local Red Cross office at 55 Main St., Goshen, N.Y. 10924. People who want to run fundraisers for the Red Cross should call the local office at 294-9785 in order to obtain a letter of agreement, Popovich said. State Sen. William J. Larkin Jr., R-C-Cornwall-on-Hudson, reminded New Yorkers or their special duty. "After September 11, 2001, the entire country came to us in our time of need," Larkin said. "New Yorkers know all too well how important it is to pull together when tragedy strikes. I know that residents of the Hudson Valley will respond with their thoughts and prayers as well as their generosity. The best way for us to help is by making donations to the many organizations who already have relief efforts underway to help the thousands of people devastated by Hurricane Katrina." The extent of damage and loss of life caused by Hurricane Katrina is still unfolding, Popovich said. But early news reports indicate that the hurricane has left a trail of utter destruction even as it continues to flood communities far inland. On Aug. 31, 80 percent of New Orleans was reported to be under water, and the Gulf Coast communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have awakened to extreme damage that will put many thousands of families out of their homes for months on end. Officials believe that this storm will be more costly than Hurricane Andrew, the previous record-breaking hurricane of 1992. In response, the American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources for a single natural disaster involving thousands of trained disaster relief workers, tons of supplies-and shoulders on which to lean. The American Red Cross in Greater New York is assisting the National Red Cross relief effort by staffing a call center to answer inquiries during times of a large disaster that have occurred anywhere in the nation. Because of Katrina, the regional branch opened its call center for the first time this past weekend. "Since opening Saturday morning, we have handled over 1,500 phone calls," Popovich said. Red Cross relief efforts are expected to continue for up to three months. People who would like to become Red Cross volunteers should call the local office at 294-9785 for information. Larkin offered other charities and contact numbers: Operation Blessing (1-800-436-6348) and America's Second Harvest (1-800-344-8070).