My wife Lois and I are currently volunteering at the Red Cross shelter in University City. We are tasked with managing the shelter and making sure all the guests are well taken care of. Yesterday’s storm was very powerful and hundreds of homes were affected across the area. We weren’t sure how many people would show up at the shelter so we were prepared with dozens of cots, comfort kits, meals and snacks. There are several other volunteers and staff on-hand to make sure everything goes smoothly.
 
We had five people stay last night: two women from a nearby apartment complex and a young family with a toddler. All of the guests were without power in their homes and two of the three homes have water damage.
 
I left around 11pm last night once everyone was settled. Lois held down the fort all night and I came back at 8:00 this morning to take over until 8:00 tonight. The guests have left for the time being to go back and check their homes. They’re going to call us to let us know if they need shelter again this evening.
 
This is the third time I have worked in a Red Cross shelter in Heman Park. Six years ago I had my very first shelter assignment here. We sheltered 62 people after a nearby apartment caught fire. I learned quickly what needed to be done. Now I feel like a veteran shelter manager. I think I have responded to 30 or so disasters here in St. Louis and around the country. That’s all for now. Back to work.
 
Dan Flippen
Red Cross Volunteer
Kirkwood, MO