Moore County NC Chapter Volunteers Support Hurricane Relief Efforts

Southern Pines, NC, October 22, 2008 - Moore County NC Chapter Volunteers Support Hurricane Relief Efforts

Our local Moore County Chapter of the Red Cross sent 12 volunteers of the more than 3500 that responded to assist in a variety of ways.  The  photograph (below, left) shows the Moore County volunteers on their return.  Standing from left: Jon Bachelder, Breon Allen, Jimmy Brock, Terry McDaniel, Bob Dillman.  Seated from left: Adam Small, Ron Flock, Marilyn Flock, Carol Dillman.  Not pictured: Patrick Butcher, Melinda Katz, Steady Mears.

On October 14, 2008, our local volunteers provided photographs and recalled highlights of their deployment. A slideshow summary is provided below, right.

Breon Allen – 1st deployment, 3 weeks – as a mental health professional, worked on disaster mental health and community outreach.  Initially assigned to the Houston mega-shelter, then subsequently to shelters in Baytown and Oak Island where of 300 houses only 4 survived. In Seabrook all coastal houses were destroyed and extensive sewage backup damaged most others.  Helped people distressed by storm, victims of assults, reunited lost family members, fostered bonding of victims.  One evening I helped a little girl that was afraid to go to the unlit porta-johns, who afterwards said “thank you, Red Cross lady”.

Jon Bachelder – 1st deployment, 3 weeks – deployed to Bay St Louis MS, a town which partnered with Southern Pines partner resulting from Katrina.  Responsible for shelter operations resulting from Gustaf, our shelter had as many as 70 clients with area damage limited primarily flooding.  The shelter was at the Lagniappe Presbyterian church facility which normally houses teams working on Katrina rehab but was empty for renovation. Stayed at church shelter which included 4 bunkhouses, a commercial kitchen with professional chef and access to office resources.  Living was good, hours were long.

Jimmy Brock – 3rd deployment, 2 weeks - assigned to shelter operations, Houston mega-shelter.  Housed and fed as many as 1100 people per day with more than 40 special need people including blind, people in wheelchairs and other special needs individuals.  St. Lukes Methodist Church provided staff housing.  Work was long and hard, typically 12 hr days.

Pat Butcher – 1st deployment, 2 weeks – deployed to Ft Worth the first day then to Kountz TX, bulk distribution warehouse, a central distribution point for 3 days.  After teams were established we were assigned to Houston kitchen 22, at the First Baptist church where the kitchen was operated by the Southern Baptist Convention.  For the next 10 days we loaded and unloaded our truck delivering food to various locations around the beltway and supplying a mega-center with food from the kitchen, “heater” meals and water.  We bunked at the Baptist church, which also provided breakfast.  Lunch and dinner were available at the adjacent kitchen or at local restaurants.  While Houston was not severely damaged by the hurricane, extensive power outages in area were the result of fallen trees.  Our days were incredibly long, most evenings till 8pm or later.  For a first experience it was incredible, with the diverse individuals quickly coming together into very efficient teams.

Carol and Bob Dillman – 8th deployment, 3 weeks - Ft. Worth Red Cross Headquarters.  Assigned to Welfare Information (WI), a misnomer.  This is a new Red Cross function with the responsibility for dealing directly with the clients, finding and reuniting missing individuals. A new tool called the “Safe and Well” database is used to register missing individuals.  Extensive work is required with the shelters, hospitals and police agencies.  Area Red Cross field and National Guard teams provided direct liaison  with shelters in Tyler, Arlington, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio.  By working together and visiting shelters we were able to resolve more than 200 cases plus provide staff training for a substantial number of volunteers.  Fortunately we were able to stay in a hotel near the headquarters.  Being able to reunite families provided a real sense of accomplishment.

Marilyn and Ron Flock – Ron's 3rd deployment and Marilyn's 1st deployment, 3 weeks - deployed to San. Antonio, Kelly Field Air Force Base shelter, a City of San Antonio facility.  We were part of a team of 10 responsible for sheltering and food service.  We worked the graveyard shift (10pm – 6:30am) preparing for the following day  by cleaning and sanitizing the food service area which served  as many as 5000 individuals each day.   During the slow periods we restocked beverage coolers, made coffee, served food, put food in individual packages.  Shelter building was huge, able to accommodate well more than 5000 people including an area for special needs.  Initially we stayed in a staff shelter, moved to a hotel and finally to an apartment which needed a good cleaning prior to our residence.  In total, a fantastic experience working with an incredible team of individuals.

Melinda Katz - 4th deployment, 5 weeks - initially went to Jackson MS Red Cross chapter house managing local Disaster Services, Client Casework.  Then assigned to Hattiesburg MS followed by Homa LA and finally Lake Charles LA which was one of the last counties to open up because of extensive flooding.  Typically worked 12 hr days with personal focus on care of Red Cross staff personnel.  Stayed in shelters with other disaster volunteers. 

Terry McDaniel – 1st deployment, 3 weeks - assigned to Ft. Worth Red Cross Headquarters then Kountze/Beaumont TX shelter serving 200 people and major food preparation facility with a mobile kitchen preparing lunch and dinner for as many as 15,000 people each day, The Red Cross team packed and arranged food for distribution with 4 lines filling “clamshells” for further distribution to other locations and 3 lines preparing meals for local distribution,.  At one time the line of vehicles to get food was reported to have a 4 mile backup.  Water and ice were also loaded for distribution.  Work was long and hard, typically, 9am – 8pm.  Staff lodging was at a new FEMA shelter (tents), with showers, washers/dryers (nicknamed “Disneyland”).  Later sent to Galveston airport food service facility which prepared, packaged and loaded 47 Red Cross Emergency Response vehicles (ERVs)  and 30 Salvation Army trucks each day delivering supplies to remote facitities.  Staff lodging, referred to as Stalag 17, was initially at a FEMA facility and later at local hotel.  The damage to Galveston was extensive, high winds but primarily surge water damage exceeding 7 feet.

Steady Mears – 2nd deployment, 3 weeks – Steady previously spent 3 weeks on deployment on the San Diego fires.  His current assignment is with the Red Cross Houston headquarters working in Staff Relations coordinating volunteers.  On completion of his Houston assignment he plans to drive one of the 75 ERVs back to its home chapter, and then return home to Moore County.  Steady is the Moore County Disaster coordinator and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainer.

Adam Small – 1st deployment, 2 weeks -  Jacksonville and Hattiesburg MS, College Station and Galveston TX as an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driver. An ERV is essentially a roving food pantry.  Each day we loaded it with food, beverages, ice and other necessities and drove to designated locations in the disaster areas where meals were distributed to those in need.  On return to the staging areas, we cleaned and reloaded for the next day. Early each morning fresh food was loaded and we were on our way.  Our lodging was in church shelters but several nights we slept in the ERV.  Manning an ERV is hard work and the hours long.  More volunteers are always appreciated.

The Red Cross has a long tradition worldwide of providing assistance to the less fortunate whether victims of major disasters such as recent hurricanes Gustaf and Ike along the Gulf Coast, wildfires in California, flooding along the Mississippi valley, earthquakes in China and Peru, cyclones in Myanmar, or tornados in the Midwest.  Assistance is also provided to the victims of the more than 170 home fires that occur every day in the USA.  The Red Cross also provides financial assistance and counseling to military families worldwide.         

Recent hurricanes Gustaf and Ike, resulted in extensive flooding, damage to housing and devastation along the Gulf Coast.  Several thousand Red Cross volunteers from many states together with local disaster relief agencies staffed more than 100 shelters for displaced families and prepared and served well more than 2.5 million meals, an effort that is continuing to-date.

Necessary activities cover a broad spectrum of activities from Individual Client Services for client casework, welfare information (Safe and Well), health services, disaster mental health and recovery planning and assistance.  Mass Care includes bulk distribution, feeding, sheltering and community programs.  Material Support includes facilities management, warehousing and supply, transportation, procurement, communications, computer operations and customer services.  Staff Services is responsible for the well-being of Red Cross staff personnel.  Organizational Support provides public relations services, leads fund raising activities and provides compliance and ethics leadership.  Skills of all types are necessary for efficient operations.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters, provides nearly half of the Nation’s blood supply, teaches lifesaving skills and supports military members and their families,.  The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.  Donations are always needed to support this continuing effort.  Contact Buddy Spong, Executive Director, Moore County Chapter, American Red Cross 910.692.8571 to offer your support.

Respectfully submitted: James D Johnson, Red Cross, Moore County NC, Disaster Action Team volunteer