NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Local volunteers have headed the call and the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and several churches are ready to send people, food and supplies to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
As of Tuesday, volunteers were standing by ready to be sent to some of the hardest hit areas. The Nashville Area chapter of the American Red Cross is sending more than a dozen people Wednesday morning to Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
Nashvillians like Joe Dudney are ready to help out.
"I've been working with people in Atlantic City, New Jersey," said Dudney "We're told we're going to be going to about 13 states in all,"
Dudney helps run the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. This year the organization has already provided more than $4.5 worth of aid to 19 states. There's an 18 wheeler sitting outside the warehouse ready to go. The trailer is filled with food, toiletries, cleaning supplies and bedding. Volunteers are just waiting for a place to send it.
"You get to where we can go in without truck, and we'll put it on the road and it will run day and night until it gets there," said Dudney.
The American Red Cross is also ready to send volunteers. Valerie Lelek is communicating with the National Red Cross, but having trouble finding a way to get volunteers where they are needed.
"The frustrating thing about right now is we are just waiting for the airports to reopen, because there's 293 open positions right now, and we have lists of people who are ready to go," said Lelek.
The Red Cross volunteers may travel in emergency response vehicles to pass out food and supplies.
"They could also be working in Red Cross shelters making sure people have a safe place to stay, water and food and many times just a shoulder to lean on," said Beth Ferguson with the Red Cross.
As the clean up begins and residents pick up their lives Tennesseans will be there to help.
"It's really a hurry up and wait kind of game, but we're working really hard to make sure our volunteers are cued up, packed and ready and supported and they feel really good about it," said Lelek.
Many other local organizations are ready to help including Feed the Children and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief. Most are on standby until they get a phone call telling them where help is needed.
