Local volunteers on the ground in Louisiana - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

People in Northwest Ohio are lending a hand to those who are in the path of Isaac. From the Red Cross to ISOH impact in Waterville, dozens are pitching in.

Holly Hunter and Vicky Ginter have been in Louisiana since Monday. They're part of a group of Red Cross volunteers from the Findlay area. They are being sent into one of the hardest hit areas near Slidell, Louisiana. They're in what's called seek and search mode, meaning they'll be out looking for people who need help. They will also help set up kitchens.

The sun is shining in a picture of Holly and Vicky taken Thursday afternoon, but Vicky says it's just a temporary break in the action, "We were to get 20 inches of rain in a 24 hour period, so there was a steady downpour with wind gusts up to 55 miles an hour."

Vicky says it's been difficult to set up shelters and kitchens because it is still not safe to go into some of the hardest hit areas as trees and power lines are still coming down, "We don't know if we'll be taking supplies right to the shelters or if they will send us into the flooded areas. We need to go where the greatest need is, and that is what they are assessing at this time."

Vicky has been a red cross volunteer for seven years and she says helping others is a life changing experience, "When you get into an emergency response vehicle and you are the first one people see with a hot meal and you are their first contact, there is no greater feeling when they say thank you."

While local Red Cross volunteers are on the ground, truckloads of supplies are being packed up at ISOH Impact. Dr. Linda Greene heads up the operation, "We're getting calls from schools and residents asking how can we help? So the help is starting to come in, it's a little slow but it is coming in."

Greene says the process of getting the supplies to the hard hit areas has been a bit slow too. They have already sent two trucks south and have another load ready to go,"You can't really get the trucks through in a lot of areas ,so we have to wait to find out what limited areas the police will let you through,and that's a problem."

We will continue to track the work of both ISOH Impact and the local Red Cross volunteers. ISOH is looking for all kinds of supplies. They can also use cash donations to help pay for gas to get the supplies there, and they always need volunteers to pack things up.