The Cornhusker Regional Chapter of the Red Cross is seeking 40 local volunteers that can be trained and deployed immediately to meet the demand for help.

Thursday night, more than 34,000 displaced Gulf Coast residents slept in American Red Cross shelters set up in 12 states as the result of tropical storms.

Hurricane warnings are still in effect from New Jersey to Florida.

“We need people that are able to train immediately and then possibly deploy, as early as a week from now, for a minimum 21-day assignment,” said Susan Epps, chapter chief operating officer and director of emergency services.

New disaster volunteers will receive training in disaster response, including sheltering and feeding operations.

A background check and certification in CPR, First Aid and automatic external defibrillator (AED) is required.

Epps also noted that volunteers should expect to reside in shelters and may be affected by power and water interruptions and extreme heat and humidity.

For more information on becoming a disaster relief volunteer, contact Diana Wild, volunteer director at (402) 441-6384, wilddi@usa.redcross.org. Applications can also be downloaded at www.CornhuskerRedCross.org.