PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) – Scores of New Hampshire residents turned out over the weekend to learn how to respond to disasters, and some may be heading south soon to put their new knowledge to help hurricane victims.

“There’s a chance they’ll never be deployed; there’s a chance they’ll be deployed tomorrow,” said Sarah Cherne, director of the Red Cross Great Bay chapter.

About 70 people attended an eight-hour Red Cross training seminar at Pease International Tradeport on Saturday, learning the basics on how to respond to a major disaster.

Another 130 attended a similar session in Manchester and 80 signed up for further training.

At Pease, Red Cross emergency services director Mark Stafford worked to prepare potential volunteers to the mental hardship they might face.

“This is going to be about as bad as anything we’ve ever done in terms of suffering and devastation,” he said.

Volunteers learned they will stay with victims living in school gyms, churches and community centers.

“You might have to work 12 hours or more and you may not always be working with the same team,” Stafford told the group.

Despite the descriptions, many at the seminar were more concerned about HOW to sign not, not WHETHER to volunteer.

Volunteer Beth Putnam said only wished she could have gone sooner.

Tim Couture of East Hampstead worked in New Orleans for four years and plans to travel to the city to help in any way he can.

“I remember Bourbon Street, and the Superdome. It just doesn’t seem real. It’s so hard to fathom,” he said.

Couture works at Seabrook Nuclear Plant, which he said is allowing him to take off a few weeks to volunteer.

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Information from: Portsmouth Herald, http://www.seacoastonline.com

AP-ES-09-04-05 1319EDT