The American Red Cross of Southern Maine dispatched three trained disaster volunteers south in anticipation of Tropical Storm Gustav making landfall Tuesday.

After the American National Red Cross sent out a nationwide request to local chapters for assistance, volunteers from around the country began preparations to assemble shelters in both Texas and Louisiana in the event of large scale damage resulting from the storm.

Two of the three volunteers from Maine are bringing the chapter's Emergency Response Vehicle, which provides volunteers the capability to feed 400 people a hot meal, at one time.

Volunteers can serve up to 1,200 meals a day from one vehicle, and the American Red Cross considers them crucial after devastating storms.

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