From the American Red Cross:

Two volunteers, one from Lewis County and one from Pierce County, left today, Saturday, to drive the Mount Rainier Chapter’s Emergency Response Vehicle from Seattle to New York.

The Emergency Response Vehicle is prepped and ready to be used in feeding operations in the disaster affected area on the East Coast. More than two-thirds of the entire Red Cross fleet have been deployed and are beginning to distribute meals, water and snacks to those in need.

So far, 13 volunteers have been deployed to the East Coast from the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter which covers Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Lewis counties. Red Cross Volunteers will work long hours for several weeks to provide shelter, food, first aid, and emotional support.

“Help is on the way. As roads and airports re-open and people are able to travel again, more workers, vehicles and relief supplies will be arriving,” Mount Rainier Chapter Executive Tracy Peacock said. “We are working hard to get help to where it is needed.”

Red Cross volunteers in disaster affected communities have served 164,000 meals so far. More than 3,300 disaster workers from all over the country are on the East Coast and more help is on the way.

You can help people affected by disasters like Super Storm Sandy, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.