HAMPDEN, Maine — Two Maine women are set to fly to Louisiana on Saturday, joining three Maine Red Cross volunteers already assisting flood victims in the Pelican State.
“I’m going down to do case work,” Darlene Helms of Hampden said Friday. “I’ll be meeting with people affected to see what I can do to provide comfort, referrals for resources, shelter, clothes.”
Helms, who recently retired, said the volunteer work she has done for the past two year is hard but fulfilling.
“When you see that smile or get that hug, I say, ‘I’ll do it again,’” the Red Cross volunteer said. “This is a really good fit for me.”
Helms and Dotty Lanphear of Camden, a Disaster Mental Health Services volunteer for the last three years, are scheduled to fly out of Bangor on Saturday and will join the Maine volunteers already in Louisiana, Margaret Rode of Tenants Harbor, Sharon Collin of Cumberland Foreside and Todd Tisdale of Farmington.
“Devastating and widespread flooding in the region has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and more danger could lie ahead as scattered rain and thunderstorms are forecast to continue,” Justin Burkhardt, American Red Cross of Maine spokesman, said in a Friday email.
The five Mainers are part of the more than 1,000 Red Cross workers involved in the relief efforts, Burkhardt said.
At least 40,000 homes have been damaged and more than 70,000 people in Louisiana have registered for FEMA assistance since more than 6.9 trillion gallons of rain fell over the last week. President Barack Obama declared the flooding a major disaster.
Helms will fly into Baton Rouge, where just east of the city in a parish called Livingston, “about 75 [percent] of the homes were destroyed,” the Red Cross statement says.
To date, the Red Cross has served more than 137,800 meals or snacks and has opened 72 shelters to provide more than 28,500 overnight stays.
Those who want to help people affected by the Louisiana floods, can visit MaineRedCross.org, call 800-RED CROSS or text the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.