SEATTLE -- Several local disaster relief groups are heading toward Hurricane Dean, hoping to aid those left in need.

Hurricane Dean is already a category 4 storm and relief workers say there's no time to waste.

With millions of people simply focused on surviving the storm, disaster relief groups know the devastation left behind will make for a long recovery.

"We're talking homes that are flimsy compared to here, so this is going to be very very serious, very serious damage to homes and schools, hospitals," said Dean Owens with World Vision. "So World vision may be mounting a response that may take months in response to this kind of devastation."

The Federal Way-based World Vision has more than 100 relief workers stationed in Haiti, where Hurricane dean has already hit and left in desperate need of basic supplies.

"Large cooking utensils, large cooking pots and pans, spoons, cups, "owen said.

Betty Casey and Peggy Kindropp with the Red Cross are bringing some of those supplies to Texas.

"The supplies that the American people send down for disasters like this is just incredible," Casey said.

The storm hasn't even reached the U.S. coastline, but the Red cross team is already on the way, supplies in two.

"We've seen too many delays in the past incidents where people are dying of dehydration, no water. Getting food to them, that's so important," Casey said.

The main goal of both groups is to be on the ground early and be ready to help.

"It could hit Houston area, we have staff in Dallas, we have staff in Mississippi, we could easily bring staff to Houston," Owens said.

Both World Vision and the American Red Cross are always open to donations as they deal with these disaster.
To find out how to contribute, visit World Vision or the Red Cross online.