By Carol Anders Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Five volunteers trained by our Marshall /Fulton American Red Cross chapter have arrived in Dallas, Texas to help in the efforts to provide relief, emergency shelter and food to residents displaced by Hurricane Ike.
Ranee Rubies and Martin Turner of Rochester, Ranee Haupert of Bremen, Denny West of Plymouth and Tara Stewart from South Bend will spend 15 days in aid relief before returning.

According to local Red Cross Director James Hale, there are an estimated 42,000 people being housed in approximately 270 shelters opened across the region.
The volunteers from this area were trained on September 6. The “boot camp’ type training included first aid and CPR certification along with the fundamentals of setting up a shelter.
Hale said the National Red Cross personnel are organizing the efforts. He said “They continue to contact us for specific needs.”
He said, “They need everyone they can get, but there is an overwhelming need for nurses, mental health workers and guidance counselors.”
Hale said he hopes to be able to volunteer in the area after he is sure that the local Red Cross is covered.
Hale said there is also a real need for those who can set up shelters and direct operations. Hale is certified as a disaster human re-sources coordinator. He said, “I expect the need to go well into next year.”
Hale said there is a need for volunteers for feeding stations and damage assessments. Hale said, “The National Red Cross office depends upon damage assessments of those in the area to verify the extent to which homes have been damaged or destroyed.” He said, “Basically, they need to know how many homes in the area are down.”
“Many of the designated pre-determined shelter sites in the hard hit areas have no power and maybe are not even there now,” Hale said.
James and Marilyn Sharp along with their three children were among those who were forced to evacuate. They have been staying with a family member in Leiters Ford, but are now at a loss as how they will be able to return home to Texas. Hale said the family used all of their available funds to drive to Indiana and now find themselves without any money left to return home. Hale said, “At this time, they really don’t know if they have a home to return to.” When they were forced out of their home, they were standing in three-foot deep water.
According to Hale, the Sharp’s home received extensive damage in 2005 when Hurricane Rita hit. He said the family had just made repairs to the home.
Hale said the Red Cross is accepting donations that can be earmarked for a specific use. He said donations can be used for the disaster relief in general or for a designated family, such as the Sharp’s.
Hale said the local chapter will gladly set up another class for anyone wanting to help. He said officials are estimating the need for 3,300 more people by Friday of this week.
For more information on donating or training, call 574-936-3928.