NEW CANAAN, Conn., April 19, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- AmeriCares, the international and domestic disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, will be in La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin tomorrow to assess the needs of the people whose homes and communities have been affected by the flooding Mississippi River.
AmeriCares relief worker Dana Waesche will arrive in La Crosse by early tomorrow and then head to Prairie du Chien where she will meet with local leaders of the American Red Cross and other community-based organizations. Dana plans to evaluate the situation and begin the process of getting any needed materials to those communities as soon as possible. AmeriCares is preparing a shipment of bottled water to arrive, in the region, in the coming days.
Nine Wisconsin counties are currently under a state of emergency and Wisconsin Governor, Scott McCallum, has deployed the National Guard to help with sandbagging and flood control in Prairie du Chien. As recently as this afternoon, the river had reached 23.4 feet, 6.4 feet over flood stage. It is not expected to crest until early Friday, where it could reach 24 feet.
AmeriCares' Dana Waeshce will be available for interviews on-site in Wisconsin and upon return. For further information on AmeriCares' response to the Midwest flooding or to schedule an interview with Dana Waesche please contact Elizabeth Griffin at 800.486.HELP (4357).
AmeriCares is the nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs -- and supports long-term healthcare programs -- for people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered over $2.9 billion in aid to 137 nations worldwide. Please help us to continue our relief efforts to the Midwest by sending your cash donations to AmeriCares, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 or by calling AmeriCares at 1.800.486.HELP or logging onto www.americares.org.
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CONTACT: AmeriCares, New Canaan
Elizabeth Griffin
1.800.486.HELP