Local Red Cross disaster heroes

The Chapala Red Cross staffers who have traveled far and wide to assist in disaster relief include (front row, left to right) Jose Manuel Siordia Moya, Jessica Lopez Aguilar, Claudia Anaya Torres, Mario Alberto Gonzalez Rios and Juan Carlos Romero Chavez. Officers of Cruz Roja Chapala put together a modest ceremony Monday, December 10 to salute seven paramedics who have showed their mettle in relief efforts related to various major natural disasters.

Chapala Red Cross personnel were sent out to aid victims of hurricanes Jova and Bud that battered Mexico’s Pacific coast in 2011 and 2012, and most recently, monster storm Sandy that devastated the U.S. east coast.

Lopez (photo left) was sent to New York in the wake of this fall’s brutal megastorm Sandy. Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta handed out certificates of appreciation to Claudia Anaya Torres, Jessica Lopez Aguilar, Mario Alberto Gonzalez Rios, Juan Carlos Romero Chavez and Jose Manuel Siordia Moya. Applause also went to Pedro Camarena Flores and Francisco Torres Chavez who were absent for the occasion.