DISASTER-RELIEF TEAMS REGROUP BETWEEN RAINS; RED CROSS SEEKS MORE HELPERS.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

In the past three weeks, El Nino has presented the local American Red Cross chapter with a $45,000 tab for emergency services - a tab that mounts with each additional inch of rain.

And even as Ventura County volunteers react to the last storm, Red Cross officials are sending out an SOS for donations of money and service.

``El Nino was unbudgeted,'' said Ann Sobel, executive director of the Ventura County Chapter of the Red Cross. ``Our concern is we have a prediction of a couple more months of rain. Plus, we know in Ventura County we're subject to other kinds of disasters, like fires and earthquakes. We need to be ready.''

More than money will be needed to answer the call in coming weeks.

Ted McCaleb, director of Red Cross disaster services, praised the 98 local volunteers - and 15 out-of-staters - who have helped the local victims of mudslides and floods.

But he said he needs more people willing to volunteer and be trained in disaster management, shelter operation and damage assessment.

``It's all done with volunteers. Our reaction time is darn good for a volunteer organization, but it's not like the police,'' he said. ``I don't have volunteers in uniform waiting for the call.''

McCaleb said community emergency response teams have stepped forward to offer help. On Feb. 7 one team took part in a four-hour disaster-management course. That night heavy rains pounded the area, and the Red Cross called their new volunteers to help open an emergency shelter.

``They thought we were putting them on,'' he said. ``They just had the class that morning.''

Sobel said that, while the national Red Cross organization helps foot the bill for now, the local chapter is expected to raise money, too. There is no budget for the flooding that has occurred since the long-feared El Nino storms finally began rolling though the county last month.

``The national organization backs us, so we won't go broke,'' said Sobel. ``But we've already expended $45,000, and that figure grows each day. And if people have to move out of their homes, that figure could triple. We provide the expense of getting new living quarters.''

Thanks to the sunny days this past week, McCaleb said volunteers - and Sobel - were able to rest before new storms. The unpredictability of the rains has contributed to volunteers' exhaustion.

``This has been an up-and-down situation. We've had an ongoing emergency situation since the second (day) of February,'' he said.

``We're restocked. We've got our emergency-response vehicle ready again. Volunteers are all resting,'' he said about reaction during each lull from storms. ``If they decide to open up the skies again, we'll be ready.''