Cartersville Volunteers Head to Help with Sandy Disaster

Two Cartersville residents are among the more than 1,300 disaster workers deployed to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Weyland Billingsley and Charlie Pitchford, both American Red Cross disaster volunteers, deployed over the weekend to Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Princeton, N.J., respectively.

Billingsley will serve as government liaison in the wake of the Category 1 hurricane that Monday night

The first hurricane in recorded history to strike the Jersey Shore—a massive storm packing winds up to 97 mph—has shut down the state's infrastructure, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands, and left an untold number of people stranded by flooding.

Thousands along Connecticut's shoreline may be trapped by Hurricane Sandy's flood waters, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said of the "Katrina-like situation," and in New York, all Long Island parkways have closed following mandatory evacuations as officials expected unprecedented storm surges.

"This will be a large, costly relief response and the Red Cross needs help now," Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross, said in a release. "People can help by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief online, by text or by phone."

How To Help

Financial donations help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy.

To donate, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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