Wilmington, DE – May 22, 2006 – Local Red Cross disaster volunteer Terri Sullivan will fly out today on a three-week assignment to help care for the needs of those affected by catastrophic flooding in New England. She will be based in Manchester, New Hampshire.

A trained member of the Red Cross Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) corps, Terri has been assigned the role of Material Support Services, working in the Response Team Technology department. Terri has substantial experience serving on local and national disaster assignments, including Hurricane Charley in Florida in 2004, the New Jersey floods in April 2005 and Hurricane Katrina where she worked 7 weeks from her base in Montgomery Alabama. Terri has 4 years’ service with the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula and is currently a Disaster Action team Captain, leading local disaster response.

The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula has more than 440 trained disaster responders in its 9-county jurisdiction, and more than 60 nurses, ready to provide emergency assistance, free of charge, to local families whenever disaster strikes. This disaster relief usually consists of food, clothing and temporary accommodation and guidelines on disaster recovery, as well as referral to other community agencies for help with longer-term needs. Where mental health services are needed, trained Red Cross volunteers are available to help.

Many Red Cross volunteers opt to take additional training and gain local experience to become Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) members. Currently the chapter has more than 320 DSHR, including more than 120 AmeriCorps NCCC members, who can be assigned at short notice to disaster sites anywhere in the country. Free disaster training is provided and interested volunteers can sign up at www.redcrossdelmarva.org.

Communities in the state of Delaware and in the eastern shore of Maryland counties of Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot, can count on the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula twenty-four hours a day to assist with their disaster-caused needs by calling 1-800-777-6620. Since the American Red Cross is not a government agency and does not receive federal funding, it relies on the generosity of the American people to be able to provide emergency services to those left homeless by fires, floods and other catastrophes. The organization is committed to meeting, and exceeding, donors’ expectations, to spend donated dollars wisely and to demonstrate good stewardship and accountability. Through partnerships with donors, volunteers, emergency and security organizations, government and community agencies, the Red Cross pledges to make the Delmarva Peninsula one of the safest places to live, work and raise our families.

Hurricane Season is June 1 through November 30. Are you prepared? Contact your local American Red Cross for more information on how to prepare you and your loved ones for the unexpected, or to begin FREE disaster training to help your local community in case severe weather affects our region this season.