WARREN Volunteer will help those hit by Lili

The Warren woman will work with families to determine how the Red Cross can meet their needs.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A city woman says she's "excited and terrified" about helping Louisiana victims of Hurricane Lili.
Sue Motzer, 67, is in Louisiana for three weeks as a Red Cross worker. She left Wednesday.
She has been volunteering with blood drives by the Red Cross' Trumbull County Chapter for about four years and extended her volunteer efforts to disaster services three years ago.
Motzer will be dispatched by national Red Cross workers in Louisiana to talk with families affected by the hurricane to determine families' needs and how Red Cross can help.
Hurricane Lili hammered the Louisiana coast shortly after cleanup had started from the effects of rains from Tropical Storm Isidore.
"My kids asked, 'Why are you going now? Isn't it all done?'," Motzer said. "But the Red Cross stays at disaster sites for a long time. This is the cleaning-up part."
First time
This marks Motzer's first trip on a disaster relief operation. A retired rural mail carrier, Motzer says she's looking forward to the trip.
"To tell the truth, I'm excited and I'm terrified," she said.
She planned to reread handouts on the way to Louisiana from the classes she's taken to prepare.
"You take these classes and never have a chance to use it," she said.
Motzer has taken classes in disaster services and family services as well as CPR instruction.
She first got involved with the agency after hearing a friend talk about volunteering.
"Anyone who volunteers knows that you get so much satisfaction if you help even one person," she said. "It's the satisfaction of helping people."
The Red Cross encourages residents to assemble disaster supply kits in case of emergencies such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
The kits should include supplies for all household members such as medication, nonperishable food, radio, batteries, bottled water, first aid kit and extra clothes.