For nearly two weeks, volunteers from the East Georgia chapter have been involved in the FEMA disaster relief efforts in Morgan County.
From 7 am until 7 pm every day since May 7, 2011, volunteers represented the American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter alongside other local, state, and national organizations including FEMA, GEMA, and Family and Child Services. Together, they have helped the lives of county residents most affected by the tornadoes last month.
Volunteers have been active everyday distributing comfort kits and information to residents in need, visiting homes hit by the tornadoes, manning a table for 12 hours in the relief center, and following up on previous cases to determine the degree of assistance needed or wanted. These are just a few of the many duties involved in the relief efforts.
Fortunately, the need for assistance has substantially decreased; volunteers and government officials agree that organizations may be able to withdraw their relief efforts as early as this weekend and close the relief center as well. This has not been made official and some say that the efforts could continue into June.
Whether the efforts shut down in a couple of days or continue for another month, volunteers at the East Georgia Chapter remain committed to helping those in need.
*pictures are of volunteers Kim Moore, Janell Ward, and Susan Bell who participated in the relief efforts on May 11, 2011. Moore and Bell visited 4 homes and created new cases for all. Ward visited 6 homes previously contacted and no new cases were created.
