(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being urged to donate toward relief efforts as the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the East Coast overnight, killing at least nine more people. Sue Thesenga, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, says the powerful storm left destruction from New Orleans all the way to New York and New Jersey. “Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need and every single donation matters right now,” Thesenga says. “Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters like Ida.”

Just as many out-of-state volunteers poured into Iowa last August after the derecho to offer assistance, Iowans are now urged to help our neighbors who’ve also been hit by Mother Nature’s fury. “People can help others who have been affected by Hurricane Ida by visiting redcross.org,” Thesenga says, “or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or you can text the word ‘IDA’ to 90999 and that allows you to make a $10 donation.”

Volunteers from Iowa and around the country are already in the impacted areas across the South and Southeast providing safe shelter, meals and comfort to those in need.

(Radio Iowa) – A body was discovered near a southeast Iowa water park Wednesday afternoon. Marvin Hertz of Des Moines says he was taking a break from his job as a non-emergency medical transporter and walking around the lagoon next to the Beach Ottumwa at 12:30 when he saw what he thought was a person in the water on the opposite side. When Hertz got closer, he saw a deceased white male face down in the water near the bank. Lieutenant Jason Bell of the Ottumwa Police Department says there was no apparent trauma to the body.

The remains will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office where a cause of death will be determined. The identity of the deceased individual has not been disclosed.

Police in Creston arrested a woman at her home, Wednesday evening. Authorities say 41-year-old Angel Marie Richards was taken into custody at around 7:21-p.m. in the 300 block of N. Walnut Street, and charged with Simple Assault. She was released at the scene with a citation and summons to appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowans are ignoring warnings and taking a powerful medication designed for deworming cattle and horses in hopes of staving off or curing COVID-19. Tammy Noble, a registered nurse and spokeswoman for the Iowa Poison Control Center, says there’s suddenly a lot of buzz over Ivermectin and the Sioux City-based facility has taken calls from people who’ve ingested it on purpose and by mistake. “We’ve had a combination of both, of people that are intentionally taking it and people that are not, that have an accidental exposure to it,” Noble says, “so we’ve had both, but it’s less than a handful.” Before taking any drug to treat or prevent an ailment, Noble says it’s important to consult a physician first, especially before taking anything unapproved. “The FDA has not approved Ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans,” Noble says. “At this point, there’s not really good evidence or good proof that Ivermectin is beneficial.”

The poison center in Georgia reports a 700-percent increase in calls about Ivermectin in recent weeks. The drug can be used in proper doses to treat skin conditions in humans and pharmacies nationwide had reported dispensing about 36-hundred prescriptions per week. In recent days, however, Ivermectin prescriptions have jumped to 88-thousand per week. “If you’re considering using the animal product on yourself, we do not recommend that,” Noble says. “The veterinary formulations are typically for use in large animals. They are highly concentrated and if a human should take that, that could easily lead to an overdose.”

Taking inappropriate doses of the drug can lead to seizures, coma and death, Noble says. The Iowa Poison Control Center is available around the clock at 800-222-1222.