Volunteers sought for Hurricane Sandy aid

The American Red Cross in Santa Cruz County seeks new volunteers to be deployed to the East Coast to help with disaster efforts as Hurricane Sandy begins to batter the coast.
The Red Cross has added three new disaster training classes this week to train prospective volunteers. All classes are at the Santa Cruz Red Cross chapter office, 2960 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz.
Disaster Services Overview (Required for new volunteers): 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Shelter Operations and Shelter Simulation (Required for new volunteers):9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Nov. 3.
Client Casework, part 1 and 2: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 6
Prospective volunteers must be 18 years old and will need to fill out a volunteer application at www.sccredcross.org, take required classes and pass a criminal background check. All disaster services classes are free to volunteers.
To register email sc*********@******ss.org or call 831-600-4911.
Volunteers who are unable to attend the classes may contact the Red Cross for future class dates.
Early on Monday, news agencies reported flooding in southern New Jersey and along the coast parts in Manhattan. More than 150,000 people were without power in New Jersey, Long Island and parts of Connecticut. However, the brunt of the storm had not yet hit the coast.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the hurricane is expected to be a long-duration event, according to Rick Knabb, the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and that fierce winds will push water from the sea onto land, combined with heavy rains and high wind.