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Lycoming County Woman Heads South to Assist in Flood Relief

HEPBURN TOWNSHIP — Gayle Peters-Coates isn’t packing her bags for a big summer vacation. “Take as little as we can and rinse things out at nig...
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HEPBURN TOWNSHIP -- Gayle Peters-Coates isn't packing her bags for a big summer vacation.

"Take as little as we can and rinse things out at night and our day off is usually about finding a laundromat," said Gayle Peters-Coates.

The retired nurse who lives near Cogan Station volunteers with the American Red Cross. She sometimes travels across the country to help with disaster relief.

"They symbolize all the different disasters I’ve worked on and the states that I’ve worked on,” said Gayle.

Just this week Gayle got the call. More volunteers are needed to help the thousands who have been displaced by the flooding in West Virginia.

"I knew that it was happening and there were quite a few fatalities," said Gayle.

In less than 24 hours, Gayle will take a plane from the Williamsport Regional Airport and head to Charleston, West Virginia. From there she tells us she's not quite sure where she will be deployed to yet.

“So you come prepared for it, but you don't know," said Gayle.

“While she's away I'll be telling people that she's doing this. They’ll say, 'You must be proud,' and I'll say, 'Yes, I am,'” said Ned Coates.

Gayle's husband, Ned Coates has been on disaster relief trips in the past. This time he'll stay home while his wife heads south for two weeks.

"I get a little choked up when you think about a lot of them they are so grateful for everything we do. It makes me feel that I get more out of than I give," said Peters-Coates.

Gayle says she will keep volunteering, so she can help strangers who become friends in a time of need.

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