A team of six Kosciusko Red Cross Volunteers deployed last week to await tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac. Originally deployed to Tampa, Fla., some have been reassigned to other shelters in Pensacola and Bradenton.

Over 50 shelters are open in the Gulf area and housed over 800 people Monday night alone, as just some of the 73,000 people who were told to evacuate the New Orleans area, seek safe haven to wait out the storm.

Kosciusko Volunteer Cindy Peterson, awaiting reassignment in Tampa, sought shelter Monday night herself with several others to wait out a passing tornado. “We are fine, (it) was just a little scary” Peterson said.

Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to hit landfall this evening or early Wednesday morning – the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina – as a Level 1 or 2 hurricane, as it gains steam, swirling toward New Orleans at 75 mph.

The Kosciusko County Chapter of the Red Cross regularly trains community members who are interested in responding to local or national disasters. The next training session, called “Boot Camp,” will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15-16, at the Kosciusko County Red Cross Chapter building at 320 N. Buffalo St., in Warsaw.

All those who are interested should call 574-267-5244 to register.