By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The American Red Cross is in the middle of some challenging work as Hurricane Isaac strikes southeastern Louisiana (see related story).

Volunteers from the Philadelphia area chapter are helping in efforts there, and the Red Cross is also reminding residents in our area about emergency preparedness for future mishaps, whenever they might occur.

The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania has 23 workers in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.  The local chapter’s director of emergency services is in Louisiana and  serving as operations manager for the entire American Red Cross response (see previous story).

Renee Cardwell-Hughes, the CEO the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter, says her chapter representatives are participating in a number of tasks.

“Sheltering operations people are working with mass care, and that’s when you feed and care for hundreds of people at a time,” she explained to KYW Newsradio.   “We sent an emergency response vehicle down to facilitate feeding.   We have mental health services in the field, (and) physical health.”

Cardwell-Hughes says she hopes the hurricane will remind people in this area to review evacuation plans in the event of an emergency and make certain they have supplies at the ready.

Emergency supplies should include five gallons of water for each person in your family, non-perishable food for three days, working flashlights, and a battery-powered radio.

There are also two free smartphone applications available — one for tracking hurricanes and another for help in administering emergency first aid.

For more information go to redcrossphilly.org.