Volunteers from across Kansas are headed south to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
And for some, one of the nation's worst natural catastrophes in years will be their first experience with disaster relief.
Pittsburg residents Lori Gant and Lea Semrad just recently completed their emergency response training with the American Red Cross. They were sent to the Gulf Coast on Sunday.
Karan Nugent is the disaster coordinator for a Red Cross chapter based in Coffeyville. She calls the experience a baptism of fire for the two Pittsburg women.
Volunteers from Hutchinson, Lawrence, Topeka and other cities were also traveling to the disaster zone.
