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More Red Cross Volunteers In Colorado Help Flood Victims

By Lauren DiSpirito

DENVER (CBS4)- With 40,000 homes destroyed and more than 10,000 people forced to stay in shelters, the American Red Cross is calling on volunteers from around the country to aid relief efforts in Louisiana, including those in Colorado.

Seventeen volunteers and one staff member from the Colorado-Wyoming region are either already on the ground or set to arrive in the state on Saturday. At least one nurse from Colorado has deployed to Louisiana with the Red Cross.

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(credit: American Red Cross)

"What's going on in Louisiana is major devastation, the likes of which we have not seen since Hurricane Sandy," said Michael Masto, Regional Disaster Officer for the Colorado-Wyoming chapter.

He said the most urgent needs right now are for meals and a place to sleep.

LOUISIANA RED CROSS
(credit: CBS)

"Our volunteers are showing up with life skills and skill sets along the lines of sheltering, feeding, disaster mental health capabilities, disaster health services, nurses have been deployed."

Masto says many of the local volunteers traveling to Louisiana are the very same folks who stepped up during the disastrous floods of 2013 in Colorado. And, during those floods, more than 1,100 Red Cross volunteers from across the country came to Colorado to support relief efforts.

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CBS4's Lauren DiSpirito interviews Michael Masto (credit: CBS)

"We've experienced our own flooding, not least of which- the 2013 flooding. They know firsthand what has affected our counties here on a wide-scale basis," Masto said.

As the disaster continues, the Red Cross expects recovery costs to top $30 million.

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(credit: American Red Cross)

Additional Information from the American Red Cross:

HOW TO HELP: People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recovery from these disasters.

FINDING LOVED ONES: Residents of the affected areas can connect with their loved ones by using the "I'm Safe" button on the Red Cross Emergency App which is free and can be found in the app store for someone's mobile device by searching for "American Red Cross" or by going to redcross.org/apps.

People can also visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website, a secure and private way that friends and family connect. The site also allows people to update their status on Facebook and Twitter.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER: To become a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org today to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application.

Lauren DiSpirito reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. She covers breaking news and feature stories along Colorado's Front Range. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.

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