I’m often asked when is the busiest DAT shift.  It’s a good question and there is not a definite answer.  Sure, there are some things that do seem to consistently raise our response numbers, ie: power outages, extreme weather, full moons.  However, we generally respond to 2-3 fires every 24 hours.  Occasionally though, we have a rush.  This week, we experienced a rush for about 24 hours last Wednesday, responding to eight events and helping 40 people. 

Much of this activity happened during the 4pm-12midnight Wednesday shift.  I saw Carl Moskowitz, (one of the DAT members who worked that shift) the next morning as he arrived to help with another Red Cross project.  I was eager to hear of their busy night and Carl shared stories of making sure clients had a safe place to stay and seeing the same emergency responders at multiple scenes.  I joked that I owed him over-time wages as the team did not return to chapter until nearly 2am, though they were scheduled to end their shift at midnight.  As we finished our conversation,  I thanked him for his time.  

He shrugged his shoulders, smiled  and said “It’s what we do.”

And he’s right, the DAT helps people with their disaster-caused immediate emergency needs.  It’s what we do.

Becky White is the disaster specialist for the St. Louis Area Chapter.