As volunteers put out sandbags on the banks of the Red River in North Dakota, the Red Cross here in Eau Claire is on alert.

"We have put the emergency response vehicle, our ERV, on standby in case of a flood in Fargo,” says Emergency Service Director Jenny Legaspi. “They'll send a vehicle and two volunteers."

Legaspi says if needed, the crew will help the workers already there battling the flood.

"They'll be supporting the mobile feeding, giving food and water to the volunteers and National Guard members helping with the sandbagging,” says Legaspi.

She says the local Red Cross chapter is ready to respond whenever a natural disaster strikes across the country.

"Last year were did give support in North Dakota to the Red River flooding, around this same time of year,” says Legaspi.

With the river reaching major flood stage this morning, the Eau Claire Red Cross says it fully expects to make the trip again.

The Eau Claire Chapter of the American Red Cross says it responds to at least 90 disasters in this area alone each year, and usually goes a few times throughout the country to help as well.

The National Weather Service predicts the Red River to flood, but not as badly as last year.