Local Red Cross Volunteers Scramble to Superstorm Sandy Disaster Areas

The American Red Cross has sent several volunteers from the South Hills of Pittsburgh to the places hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy.

The Red Cross announced that it sent five volunteers, including a woman from Heidelberg, to Morgantown last week to help people affected by the large snowfall in the rural areas of West Virginia.

Rose Marie Malizio of Heidelberg, Lauren Pucci of the South Hills, Cindy Chmel of Claysville, Ken Brown of South Hills, and John Breitweiser of South Park, were sent to West Virginia on Oct. 31. That area suffered severe power outages from the heavy snowfall, prompting many residents in rural areas to evacuate to shelters until electricity was restored.

The Red Cross has mobilized 1,700 disaster workers from all over the country who have served more than 25,000 meals and snacks. We have also activated 167 response vehicles and shipped in more than 230,000 ready-to-eat meals.

Malizio is retired and has used her time to help within the community and take a leadership role with the Red Cross training. She and many other Red Cross volunteers from this area also traveled to the Gulf Coast in August to help with disaster relief following Hurricane Isaac.

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