ND Red Cross Heading South | Video

Alex Hagan | 8/28/2012

Hurricane Isaac appears to be heading towards Louisiana. The storm is approximately 350 miles wide, heading to the northwest. The area is already preparing for the storm and now volunteers from all over the country, including North Dakota, are coming to assist with relief efforts. One couple from North Dakota will hit the road and travel nearly 1,700 miles to help out with the relief efforts in southern Louisiana.

Gene and Dana Bischke were out preparing food lines today in Bismarck, similar to what they will be doing in southern Louisiana in just a few days to support the efforts of the Red Cross during Hurricane Isaac.

"It`s so gratifying to know that you can help somebody that`s going through, they just lost their house and they don`t know where they`re going to stay," Dana said.

The couple will leave Bismarck tomorrow and travel to Fargo. From there, make the trip down south.

"We have a list of things that we should take along. We`re a little bit unsure as to what we need in terms of personal items. How bad the weather is going to be? How much rain is there going to be? Is it going to be cold? Is it going to be warm?" Greg said.

The weather forecasts throughout the Gulf Region has prompted the American Red Cross to deploy or alert half of the nationwide Red Cross fleet.

"What they primarily end up doing is helping provide shelter, provide meals and then provide relief supplies, hygiene items, that type of thing. So that people have what they need when they are forced to evacuate," said Jessica Gilbertson with the Bismarck Red Cross.

The Minot disaster last year has prompted North Dakota`s Red Cross to help out.

"We saw what their volunteer efforts did to help out the city of Minot. So, hopefully, we can give back some of that to return that favor to other areas," Greg said.

Gene and Dana were out helping the flood victims in North Dakota last year, and that motivated them to assist in Isaac`s wrath.

"In Minot, they said, especially to us, `You guys are putting in long hours and we really appreciate it, aren`t you tired?` They were so kind, and here we are giving to them but they are also giving back," Dana said.

Hurricane Isaac is expected to cause serious flooding and the Bischkes are ready to help out in anyway possible.

When the Bischkes get to Fargo, they will drive down in an Emergency Response Vehicle and feed victims in need.

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