Oklahomans Volunteer To Help Those Affected By Hurricane Irene

Gan Matthews, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma Red Cross volunteers are prepared to spend several weeks in the eastern United States to help people caught in the path of Hurricane Irene.

Eight volunteers are either already there or on their way. These volunteers, four from Tulsa, two from Enid, and two from Oklahoma City, are willing to leave their jobs and their families, in short, to interrupt their lives to bring aid and comfort to others.

The last crew loaded up Friday morning.

Sarinah Cable and Liz McKeel will set up their disaster relief van in Massachusetts, where they will hand out supplies, emergency kits, and maybe even serve some meals. Cable says she loves to give to others, but she also receives a lot in return.

"Thankfully, here in Oklahoma, we have a large team of volunteers always ready to jump on board," says Rusty Surette, Regional Director of Communications for American Red Cross in Oklahoma City. "(They) Go to places they've never been, help people they've never helped, and be there for weeks."

It's a 28-hour drive to Massachusetts. The Oklahoma City team hopes to get there before the storm arrives.

The other Oklahoma teams are already in place in North Carolina.

8/26/2011 Related Story: Hurricane Irene Bears Down On Millions In Eastern U.S.