The American Red Cross is leading the way in order to make sure those affected by Hurricane Gustav receive the proper support.

"First hearing about Gustav, we're just talking about chills up your spine," said Robin Dorf, community relations specialist for the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the Red Cross.

He told Fort Smith TV station KHBS that dealing with dangerous weather is something the organization doesn't particularly like to do, but the Red Cross is ready nonetheless.

The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the Red Cross has already deployed about a dozen trained volunteers to Louisiana to assist with shelters and the possible recovery in that area. The organization said those workers are prepared to meet the needs of the thousands of evacuees.

"It's the same type of work that we would do here at our shelters with the evacuees, except it's going to be much more intense. They're going to be down where the power is going to be fluctuating, where the air conditioners may or may not be working, where there's flooding going on," Dorf said.

The Cincinnati Area Chapter of the American Red Cross also issued a call for volunteers ahead of Gustav making landfall.

Directors told WLWT-TV in Cincinnati before the storm hit that they anticipated the need for more than 3,000 volunteers for their relief efforts.

"Now that mandatory evacuation is in place, there is an urgent need for volunteer assistance at Red Cross shelters set up throughout the South," disaster staffing specialist Kevin Quatman said.

The Red Cross will train volunteers in mass care and shelter operations.

Even volunteers from as far as Vermont are ready to help with the possibly disastrous aftermath of Gustav.

"It's very possible that we'll be asked to supply some National Guard volunteers once again this year," said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglass. "The Pentagon has been in touch with us, and we've made preliminary plans to ask for volunteers to go to the Gulf Coast."

A total of 120 Army National Guard soldiers and 30 Air National Guard Airmen have volunteered.

Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, an Air Force reservist, told WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, N.Y., he was there for cleanup after Hurricane Katrina.

"It's really satisfying, it's challenging," said Dubie. "There's a lot of confusion of trying to coordinate communications, but there's been a lot of lessons learned about how to do things better than last time."

He heads to the Republican National Convention Monday morning, but like many others, he said he'll be ready to go to the Gulf if needed.

"I'm going to take my bags with me," Dubie said. "I'm going to be ready for the phone call that says, 'We need you.'"