CNY Red Cross Ready to Help Flooded New England

After three days of record-breaking rains, floods forced many New Englanders to evacuate their homes (above, from latimes.com). Rhode Island experienced its worst flooding in more than a century, prompting President Obama to issue an emergency declaration for the state.

Even with many displaced people in New England, the Red Cross has not yet asked for assistance from Central New York, Director of Public Support for the American Red Cross of Central New York Richard Blansett said. However, the chapter, which consists of Onondaga and Oswego counties, is prepared to help if needed.

"We have several hundred cots in storage and hundreds of blankets, should those be needed, should they ask for those," Blansett said.

The Central New York chapter has volunteers registered with the Disaster Services Human Resources Program who are ready to deploy to disaster areas to give aid, Blansett said.