Area Red Cross on Standby as Massive Hurricane Approaches East Coast

Meteorologists are calling this things like "Frankenstorm" as Hurricane Sandy approaches the east coast of the United States.  The storm that has already claimed nearly two dozen lives in the Caribbean churned Friday near the northern Bahamas and it's expected to hit the states as early as Monday.  This storm could merge with a cold front from the west and rival the "Perfect Storm" of 1991 out east.  Chapters of the Red Cross in the Northland are ready.

The Northland's NewsCenter is reporting that both the Northland Chapter in Duluth and the North Star Chapter in Bemidji are on standby to send disaster relief volunteers to affected areas of the hurricane.

The Red Cross is encouraging Minnesotans to download its free Hurricane App, which includes a number of features that allow people to monitor personalized weather alerts in locations where family and friends reside and share information with others in their social networks who might also need it.