Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Nov 8, 2012) — Local Red Cross volunteer, Dave Smette, is still serving meals to those displaced by Superstorm Sandy.

Red Cross Buffalo Valley Chapter, Manager, Beth Dewald in Jamestown set up a telephone opportunity for the local media, on Thursday, at the Red Cross Jamestown Business Center, headquarters, to chat with Smette and find out a bit more of his day, and what is happening in New Jersey, where he and Melissa Sheppard from Dickinson are volunteering.

Smette and Sheppard left on October 31st from Minot in a Red Cross Emergency Response vehicle, on the road for over 1,600 miles on a two and a half day trip.

When we talked to Smette he and Sheppard along with a Red Cross volunteer from Washington State had just loaded the ERV with 200 hot meals, for lunchtime, and were on their way from a kitchen set up and run by the Southern Baptist Church members from Atlanta, Georgia, located in Waretown, New Jersey, 35 miles north of Atlantic City.

They were headed 10 miles out to a shelter south of Tom’s River, New Jersey.

There, the food is served, and then back to the kitchen to unload, clean the eating utensils, and then reload and travel back to deliver the evening meals at about 5-p.m.

The day ends back at the location he’s staying at, in Waretown.

In that area alone, the Red Cross has 15 ERVs each delivering 200 meals, serving from four kitchens.

Smette says he typical day consists of rising at 6-a.m., on the road to the kitchen by 7-or 8-a.m. to load the hot meals, and then on the road to deliver by 9-a.m.

He says the nor’easter storm that hit the are devastated by Superstorm Sandy received 3-4 inches of new snow the past 24 hours, but, dumped another foot of heavy wet snow north of Waretown, which caused another 200,000 power outages.

Some residences are running on generator backup power.

He added that is on top of about 671,000 still without power from “Sandy” which initially had 5.2 million people left in the dark, and without heat or a way to prepare hot meals.

Smette pointed out that diesel fuel is somewhat easier to come by now, but, when they arrived the gas stations, that were in operation, had long lines.

Smette will stay in that area of New Jersey for about another week, for a 14 day stay.

He and Sheppard may leave the ERV there, to keep serving the displaced residents, and fly back to North Dakota.

Smette says those being served, give the Red Cross volunteers a warm welcome and “thank you,” and even other motorists, when they see the Red Cross vehicles give them a “thumbs up.”

As of Thursday, over 5,800 Red Cross workers from all 50 states are supporting shelters, providing food, and water at fixed sites, and driving through neighborhoods to distribute meals and supplies.

Feeding operations are continuing in New Jersey along with all five boroughs of New York City, providing food, water, relief supplies, and comfort.

The Red Cross has helped people in ten states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, all affected by “Sandy,” serving more than 3.2 million meals and snacks.

The Red Cross has sent thousands of cold weather items to people in New York and New Jersey, and supporting some warming centers in the area.

Meanwhile, Beth Dewald in Jamestown says, more Red Cross volunteers are needed to serve in those eastern areas.

She pointed out that the best donations are that of cash, which is used at the sites to purchase needed items.

For more information on donations, to volunteer, or lean more about area disaster preparedness training, contact the Buffalo Valley Red Cross Chapter in Jamestown at 252-3550.

She also stressed that disasters such as the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy points to the continuing need for disaster preparedness.