The local chapter of the American Red Cross has already raised
$25,000 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and will soon offer
courses to prepare volunteers to be dispatched to the area,
according to Greg Ulyan, executive director of the McKean-Potter
Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Katrina caused massive devastation to thousands of Americans
when it hit the southeastern coast, especially New Orleans.

Ulyan said the local American Red Cross doesn’t have the
manpower to deal with donations of other types (including food,
clothing and supplies), but there are plenty of other local
organizations that can use them.

Local companies like Dresser Rand and Werzalit have sent
truckloads of supplies to the victims of the hurricane, Ulyan
pointed out.

Local Red Cross representative Pat Mayer, who was dispatched to
the New Orleans area earlier this month, was still on assignment
there as of Sunday, Ulyan said. He added Mayer’s assignment was for
three weeks, and that she was into her second week there.

Ulyan said the Red Cross has not heard from Mayer since she
called to report her assignment upon her dispatch to the affected
area.

He said a second local Red Cross representative – whose name was
not available Sunday night – was going to be leaving for the New
Orleans area Tuesday.

Also, the Red Cross will offer basic disaster readiness courses
starting Sept. 21, 22 and 23, Ulyan said. He said 32 people were
signed up for the courses already, and those who were interested in
taking the courses should contact the chapter house on Congress
Street.

Ulyan said that once people are trained and have filled out the
pertinent paperwork, they are placed on a list to be dispatched,
which could take anywhere between one week to two to three
months.

He added there are other classes available at the St. Marys and
Olean, N.Y., Red Cross locations, and more information is available
on those times and dates by calling the local Red Cross office.

On a national level, Ulyan said the Red Cross wants to recruit
40,000 new volunteers for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and
that at recent a conference call, he was informed they were already
10,000 volunteers.

“As always, financial contributions work the best,” Ulyan said,
adding “it is heart-warming to know the people of McKean and Potter
counties really care about their fellow man.”