What a difference a year makes… that statement has never been more true for me. 

 

Let me take you back – New Years Eve 2010… the day was sunny and bright and WAY too warm for December 31st. We were told there was a good chance for severe weather and the forecasters were dead on. The tornados hit with ferocious winds and at least a 20 degree temperature drop. I was scheduled to ride with our Disaster Action Team (DAT) from 4pm – midnight but came in early after it was clear that this was an all-hands-on-deck kind of a day.

The American Red Cross mobilizes to all national disasters with volunteers from all of over the country. But since all “national” disasters start as a local disaster, the first line of responders are almost always local DAT members. That night was no different. We had teams working in multiple areas of the city – teams working from our Chapter Headquarters and the city and county, including my team on the way to Sunset Hills Community Center to help families affected by the tornado. We made it back to our chapter office just in time to toast the New Year (with sparkling grape juice of course) and begin to wrap up the paperwork. I think we left shortly after 1:30am. It was the first of a couple of really long, really exceptional days, for the St Louis Red Cross Chapter. 

 

Fast forward to this New Year’s Eve… I again rode the 4pm-midnight shift. I think everyone at the Red Cross had a slight case of the jitters. As I arrived at Chapter I had to admit that I was a little leery too. While I was fairly comfortable that Mother Nature would not deliver another present like last year, I was not so sure we would get through the night unscathed. 

As we started our beginning of shift checks and paperwork, the scanners were busy with lots of chatter. A couple of medical calls, a car accident and then the St Louis City Dispatcher calls out a first alarm house fire – I thought – here we go. Luckily that one turned out to be dry cooking (firefighter speak for burning your dinner and setting of the automatic fire alarm) and we would not be needed. 

My partner Scott and I decided that maybe the wisest course of action would be go to dinner early as it looked like a busy night. We were back at Chapter when the call came in for an apartment fire – I thought- I am never going to volunteer another New Years Eve! We arrived on scene and discovered that thankfully this building had a sprinkler system. The Fire Department was already wrapping and heading out. What could have been a major blaze was contained to a kitchen fire and some water damage. Scott and I split up and went to work. I talked to the resident where the fire started, and he went one floor below to help the gentleman who had water in his apartment. While Scott was talking to him, the victim began to experience chest pains. Scott immediately called 911 and stayed with him until help arrived. Scott’s quick actions and calm presence helped avert a tragedy. The requirement that all DAT members be First Aid and CPR certified certainly proved crucial. 

 

Thankfully that was the only real excitement for the night  - although there was significant disappointment when we found out that Crown Candy was closed and we couldn’t get any ice cream;) .  I am hoping that the relatively calm night leads to a peaceful and disaster free 2012! 

 

Lori