As a Red Cross volunteer, I’ve had the privilege to be out on disaster relief assignment since April 22^nd before I returned from Illinois on May 19th. I started in St. Louis on the night of the Good Friday tornado at the Red Cross shelter in Maryland Heights, worked my regular Disaster Action Team (DAT) shifts, worked Damage Assessment (DA) then went over to Client Casework Outreach.

 

I was deployed to Cape Girardeau on Friday May 6th for DA then went to Little Egypt on May 13th again for DA. During this time I was reminded time and time again of the compassion, empathy, and altruism demonstrated not just by Red Cross workers, but the true spirit of the people affected by the disasters. I cannot count the number of hugs I have received. I am a true believer that what you give is returned not just 10 times but more than one could ever realize. Some of the very people we helped in the shelter I saw again and was brought to tears of joy by the most heartfelt hugs I have ever had.

 

In the flooded areas, I met people who said “I didn’t realize you knew we were here; you’re the first people we’ve seen other than local officials.” I have met mayors, fire and law officials, and have even had a police and military escort. I didn’t meet one person who wasn’t happy to see us; we were welcomed into their communities as if we were an old friend.

 

There was one mayor of a very small town in New Madrid County Missouri who particularly stood out. I am sure if not for the flooding and hardships of his town we would’ve been welcome by the marching band with complete fanfare. However, his town was completely affected by the flood - no drinking water, no water for cooking, cleaning or washing clothes, many homes damaged in various degrees, and all homes were affected. Residents who returned after the evacuation had to walk to City Hall to use a porta-potty. Despite all the tremendous hardships he was facing, he was worried about us, the volunteers. He made sure we had something to eat and gave us some coffee to drink, at which time he gave us a history of his town and a lesson on river terminology. This man is truly amazing; I will always remember him. 

 

Fast forward to the present- it’s the first week of June and the start of hurricane season. Last week I was blessed with a wonderful weekend; my daughter and her husband came in from Ohio for a visit. We had a wonderful cookout and get-together with family and friends. This included an early birthday surprise for my daughter as her birthday is June 10th. During my DAT shift last week, I did some shopping and bought my daughter a Disaster Preparedness Kit. I believe it’s the best birthday present she will ever get if she has to use it, and the best gift ever if she does not have to use it.

 

During our visit prior to the birthday surprise, she was telling me how she uses the Red Cross coloring books with her autistic students, in her job as a Behavioral Therapist. To my surprise she explained how her students become very excited and motivated by the Red Cross Materials. I knew at that time that her birthday gift was going to be more than I realized. When she opened it she said, “Wow! I am going to take this to my students and let them go through it.”  I gave her some Be Red Cross Ready publications to take to her students for their parents as well. Okay and now for the icing on the Birthday Cake: Since May 21st was the 130th Birthday of the American Red Cross, they featured the Red Cross in their current newsletter for autistic students. She was so excited to tell me that she has a whole bonus week of American Red Cross activities for her students. 

 

The American Red Cross has brought tremendous joys to my life in ways I would have never expected. 

 

Ann