Thousands of dollars are pouring into to local chapters of the American Red Cross and Salvation Army…but both organizations could use volunteers. The Lee County Red Cross has already sent 10 of its volunteers to Mississippi. Before they can start helping – all volunteers must be trained...a process that’s being expedited because the need is so great. In the case of the Red Cross – interested people should go to the local chapter’s office to apply, and be interviewed. Training lasts about a week. Executive Director of the Lee County Chapter of the American Red Cross - Heidi Ruster says strong bodies and hands are what’s needed right away.

“People to help out in the shelters and to help feed the individuals is where the largest need is – that’s a skill we can teach pretty easily. In future months we’ll need more specialties…we have sent some individuals out with mental health backgrounds and health backgrounds, and also some people who have some degree of expertise in logistics and getting supplies out, and that sort of thing. But right now mass care and getting some people out there to assist is what we need.”

The Salvation Army is also seeking volunteers. That training can be completed in 3 or 4 days.
Volunteers won’t necessarily be dispatched to scenes of destruction… local chapters must also remain prepared in case another hurricane hits south Florida. Both organizations say flexibility is the key word for any and all potential volunteers.

Throughout southwest Florida… there are efforts to help victims of hurricane Katrina. Ryan Warner has more. (AUDIO)

Electric companies in Florida are asking customers to conserve energy – after Hurricane Katrina disrupted access to one of their primary sources of fuel…natural gas. Rigs in the Gulf of Mexico – and their connections to land – were severely damaged by the massive storm. Florida Power & Light – the state’s largest electric utility – generates more than 35-percent of its electricity from natural gas. On Monday, FPL resorted to a rarely-used conservation tool—taking more than 500 commercial customers offline from 2 to 8 pm. That included more than 10 schools in Charlotte County… but no classes were disrupted. Company spokesman - Grover Whidden - says this isn’t just about FP & L -.

“So if we have problems even with part of the system it has the potential to affect other companies. They were concerned enough that customers be asked to implement energy conservation on a voluntary basis.”

Whidden says the conservation measures are only precautionary – but that the days and weeks ahead will better reveal exactly how serious the supply problems are. FPL has switched many of its “dual use” plants over to oil. It’s also ratcheting up production at coal and nuclear facilities.
For now, people are asked to use electricity wisely…that includes setting thermostats higher - and turning off non-essential devices.

Work on the new bridges—linking mainland Lee County to the barrier Islands of Sanibel and Captiva—is on schedule. On Wednesday some officials boarded a barge and went on a tour of the work-in-progress. Valerie Alker has this report. (AUDIO)