By Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross of Northern Ohio
August 24, 2020- Volunteers from Northern Ohio are preparing for the storms taking aim at the Gulf Coast and have responded to the current wildfires in California and the derecho that slammed the Midwest two weeks ago.
“One of the joys of working with this team of volunteers is that several days ago we were strangers and in a short time we have become a team. We have no bosses. Everyone just seems to recognize each other’s strengths and everyone just naturally flows to what they do best to compliment the team. It is a beautiful thing to watch.”- John Lavelle, Northern Ohio volunteer
Three volunteers have deployed to California, 5 are providing relief to residents in Iowa, and 7 have been assigned to help with any tropical storm/hurricane relief efforts required because of Marco and Laura.
August 23, 2020. Santa Rosa, California. Red Cross shelter at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California. Red Cross volunteer Jillian Robertson talks to shelter client Ann Ogilvie and her dog, Tigglet. Much of her neighborhood, nicknamed The River, had to evacuate, but they are still finding ways to take care of each other. Weve seen floods and wildfires over the years. We check on each others pets and homes, and just make sure everyone is ok. Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross 
August 23, 2020. Santa Rosa, California. Red Cross shelter at the Fairview Inn and Suites in Healdsburg, CA. Red Cross volunteer RJ Turner carries food brought from Vacaville to the hotel where it will be distributed to shelter residents. Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross 
August 20, 2020. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Red Cross volunteer Siafa Fahmbulleh, whose own home has been without power since the derecho, delivers boxes of food to apartments around Cedar Rapids. Photo by Dennis Drenner/Red Cross 
August 19, 2020. Veterans Memorial Coliseum Red Cross Shelter. Cedar Rapids. Iowa. Preparing to visit small towns throughout the county that were affected by the disaster, Red Cross volunteer Virginia Borek loads snacks onto a pickup truck. In the background, Molly McCormick. Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross 
August 17, 2020. Veterans Memorial Colosseum Red Cross operated shelter. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Red Cross nurse, Helen Caves of Indiana, talked with shelter client Grace about her health conditions and the state of her home while providing her a safe place to rest. Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross 
August 18, 2020. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Red Cross volunteer Lynnette Gralak looks out the window of her ERV. Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross
“One of the first things you learn on deployment is that flexibility is paramount. Coming to Iowa, the original assignment was for feeding. However, after about two hours, the assignment became what they call a special strike force, where our primary mission was to find out what the residents needed and where to distribute the items.
One of our stops on Saturday (August 22) was a large apartment complex, which gave me tremendous appreciation for individuals who provide food to refugee camps in the hardest hit areas around the world. Trying to maintain organization and provide the items people needed at times overwhelmed us. Experience is by far the best teacher, and following this experience, the team came up with a plan as to what to do if a similar situation happens again.
One image that stands out to me was when a resident wanted a case of water and a large bag of 12 meals, both heavy objects. We told her we would hold one of the items for her until she came back, but she refused and placed the case of water on her head and carried the box of food in her arms. She made it appear as if she was born to do this.
One of the joys of working with this team of volunteers is that several days ago we were strangers and in a short time we have become a team. We have no bosses. Everyone just seems to recognize each other’s strengths and everyone just naturally flows to what they do best to compliment the team. It is a beautiful thing to watch.”
In addition, several volunteers responded to seven home fires in Northern Ohio over the weekend, providing immediate financial assistance to more than 30 children and adults.
Additional volunteers are needed to train for disaster responses, specifically to respond to home fires locally and to staff shelters during national disaster responses. Licensed health care professionals are also needed to help people in disaster shelters.
People in good health and who are willing and able to receive free Red Cross training and can deploy for up to two weeks can visit www.redcross.org/volunteertoday, or can call 1-800-RED CROSS. The number one priority of the American Red Cross is the health and safety of our employees, volunteers, blood donors and recipients, and the people we serve, and we have implemented several measures, in accordance with CDC guidelines, to protect our workers and those who need our assistance.
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