Eastern Iowans to help tornado survivors in Alabama

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linda Hey got a phone call this week that will change her plans for a while.

At about 5 p.m. Thursday, the American Red Cross called Hey to see if she would be able to pack and be at The Eastern Iowa Airport within 24 hours, to fly to Birmingham and help tornado survivors.

'I started watching the TV and became more aware of how terrible it is,' said Hey from her Cedar Rapids home Friday morning. 'It made me anxious to go and nervous at the same time.' Hey, a retired elementary schoolteacher, will be dealing with tough conditions for up to 14 days. 'They work incredibly hard,' said Angela Jordan, CEO of the Grant Wood Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

'The average day is 16 to 18 hours. They are exhausted, drained and feeling really good about what they have done.' Hey and her family moved back to Cedar Rapids from Ames in late 2007. Months later, when the Flood of 2008 hit, Hey said she chose to get involved.

'I found out how they (Red Cross) are so organized and I decided that would be the group I chose for volunteering,' Hey said.

Hey said her training is in what is called 'mass care', which is the sheltering and feeding of people and families.

'I have an idea of how the shelter process works,' Hey said. 'As soon as I get there, I'll be put to work and ready to go.' Dick Kubit, of Riverside, also flew out of The Eastern Iowa Airport on Friday for Birmingham.

Jordan said. The Red Cross has paperwork in for 'three to five' more people to serve in Alabama.