The Red Cross has launched a large disaster response effort that could last for weeks, affecting multiple states along the Gulf of Mexico. As the remains of Tropical Storm Isaac continue to creep slowly north, affecting millions of lives with strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and coastal surges, the Red Cross in Tennessee is working to respond.

"A storm of this scope and magnitude requires the Red Cross to send our volunteers to various parts of the country to help in different capacities such as sheltering, feeding and supply distribution," said Regional CEO, Joel Sullivan.  "This is what we train and prepare for every day so that when the call to action arrives, our volunteers can hit the ground running to provide help and hope to people whose lives have been uprooted after a disaster."

The Red Cross has more volunteers, equipment and supplies poised ready to help people in the affected areas after the storm passes.

• More than 3,000 trained Red Cross disaster workers from all over the United States have deployed to the Gulf region to help.
• We have 311,000 ready-to-eat meals and kitchen support trailers in the area. In addition, the Southern Baptist Convention has mobile kitchens capable of producing thousands of meals a day prepositioned alongside the Red Cross.
• Across the Gulf Coast, 197 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are ready to move in to serve meals and distribute relief items once it's safe to do so.

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