Eastern Iowa Red Cross volunteers are responding to the hurricane crisis in Florida. Nine volunteers from the Waterloo-based Hawkeye Chapter are among the many Red Cross officials providing relief to the thousands of people effected by Hurricane Charley. Hawkeye Chapter director Alan McKean says the response is the largest for the Waterloo-based organization since Hurricane Andrew in 1993 and is almost on-par with the local chapter’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In Florida, the American Red Cross is now providing meals for almost 190,000 people per day while assisting in damage assessments, helping with mental health issues, and assisting in interagency coordination. Hurricane Charley is also keeping Iowa travel agents busy. A Waterloo travel service has had to re-book nearly 40 trips for Iowans who were planning to fly into Fort Myers, Florida, the area hardest hit by the hurricane.
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