Aug 27, 2008 10:40 pm US/Eastern
Local Red Cross Volunteers Head To Gulf Coast
BETHEL PARK (KDKA) ―
Two local Red Cross volunteers leave tomorrow morning for the Gulf Coast in advance of Tropical Storm Gustav which is expected to soon reach hurricane strength again.
Tom Palmquist, of Bethel Park, and Joe Korinchak, of Gibsonia, will drive an Emergency Response Vehicle tomorrow headed first to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area.
"I volunteered 3 years ago, after Katrina to assist people with the Red Cross, it hit me, there was a lot of assistance need, and disaster relief," says Palmquist, a retired computer consultant. "I'm retired, and had the time, so, that's when I joined."
Gustav has already killed nearly 2 dozen people in the Caribbean area, it's expected to crash ashore somewhere along the gulf coastline early next week.
Ironically, three years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina came ashore in New Orleans area, killing hundreds of people, and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate to higher ground because of raging flood waters, after levees broke in the area.
Palmquist says his volunteer work is far from being fun, but, it is rewarding, adding that in most disasters, people lose utilities, gas, electric and water. He says he's prepared to stay in the truck to provide whatever services he can to help.
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