TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now)- Hurricane Isaac is sweeping through the Gulf Coast leaving people without power, flooding the streets, and destroying homes. The Northwest Ohio Red Cross chapter has sent 21 volunteers over to lend a helping hand and is sending number 22 Thursday.
"It's heart-breaking sometimes, when you have see people that have lost everything they have and they can't go home yet because it's not safe to go home, or they don't know what's happened to their home, or they don't know what they're going to go home to and you know they're out of work because their workplaces have shut done because of flooding or damage.," said Kim Lemke.
Lemke has volunteered during nine different natural disasters. Hurricane Isaac will be her tenth.
"When you see people that have lost everything, you can't not do it, somebody has to, if you're able to, I mean you have to do what you can," said Lemke.
Volunteer Gregg Blankley feels the same way.
"It makes you feel really good, it makes you feel like you're doing something, and I think everyone should, at least once or twice in their lifetime. If not the Red Cross maybe a soup kitchen, or food banks. Help someway, it's just, it's good for ya and I think everyone should do it," said Blankley.
Seven years ago, Blankley volunteered during Hurricane Katrina and said that opened his eyes.
"That was a first time experience, and I'll tell you, it was one of those things you got to see it to believe it. What everyone saw on their little TV screens was nothing compared to when you stand in an area, and you don't hear birds, you don't hear dogs or children and it's dead quiet and the odors of the chemicals, everywhere," said Blankley.
Hurricane Isaac is expected to weaken for the next 48 hours.
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