PITTSBURGH, PA – Volunteers with the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter are once again headed to the Gulf Coast—this time in advance of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

With the storm forecast to reach Florida tomorrow, and possibly regain hurricane strength on its way, the volunteers are part of American Red Cross pre-positioning of human and material resources that can be used for the immediate emergency needs of people affected by the storm.

The chapter deployed eight volunteers to staging areas in Baton Rouge, La., Montgomery, Ala., and Orlando, Fla. The volunteers will perform tasks such as assessing damage, bulk distribution of food and supplies and serving meals out of a mobile kitchen to those affected by the storm.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that although this year’s three named storms to-date pale in comparison to the nine that had formed by this time last year; an above-normal season is still being predicted. For the remainder of the season, which officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, NOAA is predicting 12 to 15 named storms. Of these storms, seven to nine are expected to become hurricanes with three to four intensifying to major hurricanes. If interested in being trained to respond during the 2006 hurricane season, contact the local Red Cross at 412-263-3195.