Tropical Storm Isaac: Red Cross volunteers preparing to act

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Days before any major storm makes landfall, the American Red Cross puts thousands of local volunteers on alert. With Tropical Storm Isaac's path still uncertain, many of those volunteers have already been called on to help.

Volunteers are already preparing to go wherever or whenever they are need.

"They call it the cone of uncertainty for a reason," said Rob Levine, CEO, Palm Beaches, Treasure Coast Region at American Red Cross.

Team leaders are already checking the availability of many of the 3,900 local volunteers should Isaac make landfall.

Steve Lewis, Red Cross Regional Communications Manager, said his teams will be ready; and residents should be as well.

"Everyone is wondering exactly where Isaac is going to go but now is the time to prepare," said Lewis. "We don't want to wait until we figure out where Isaac is going to go."

Local volunteers are already loading up their trucks with supplies, including cots, bottled water and gasoline.

"They don't know where they're going to end up," said Levine about his volunteers. "All they know is that they are going to make a difference," he said.

On Thursday, much of the Red Cross leadership in Florida will plan out their next steps concerning volunteer efforts, hopefully with a better handle on where Isaac will be headed in the coming days.