Volunteer Finds Unlikely Hero in Red Cross

Volunteer Finds Unlikely Hero in Red Cross

By Jamie Black, with narrative from Amy Poffenberger

The American Red Cross has provided humanitarian support to the United States military, veterans and their families under a trusted symbol for more than 130 years. Through the Service to the Armed Forces program, the Red Cross provides emergency communications, supports military and veteran health care facilities, and provides social services to the more than 2 million military members to include National Guard and Reservists, 23 million veterans and their families. The Red Cross is able to provide these services through employees and volunteers who are stationed alongside the military, across the country and around the world. This includes a network of Red Cross Chapters and Stations that have offices on domestic installations as well as supporting service members, veterans and their families who are located in communities across the country and who may not be near a military installation.

In 2012, the Red Cross provided nearly 320,000 emergency communication services to 131,000 military members and their families. Receiving a message or a phone call from a loved one serving overseas can bring smiles to their children’s faces and tears of joy to their spouses. Over a decade ago, one of our own local volunteers was waiting for a call from her son who was serving in Bosnia that never came. Read on to discover Amy’s story about how an unlikely hero would reconnect her family in their time of need…

“In April 2001, I was to receive a call from my son to let me know where to wire funds for an upcoming leave. He was going to celebrate his birthday in Macedonia with a four day leave with other soldiers from his unit. The days before his birthday, the day of and a couple of days after came and went with no contact from my son. Our previous contact had been intermittent and always initiated by Shawn. Here I was without any phone numbers, computer, email, or any other means to find out where he was or to see if he was alright.

Imagine all of the thoughts that were going through my head… Where was he? Had there been some fighting where he was stationed? Was he injured, or even worse—heaven forbid—dead? I was beginning to get frantic and didn’t know where to turn.

I contacted his local National Guard Unit; but because he was an adult in the service, they could not give me any information. I then contacted a drill Sergeant at Fort Benning who had become a friend of the family, hoping he could locate some information for us. Unfortunately, he too was not permitted to release any information about my son. At this point, I was feeling desperate and didn’t know where to turn next.

I cannot recall what made me think of the Red Cross… I had never had reason to use their services before nor had anyone mentioned this possibility to me. But with wellbeing of my son hanging in the air, I took a leap of faith. On the morning of April 23, I called the local chapter and explained the situation to them. The case worker was very caring and soothed the anxious mother in me. She explained that they had many channels that could be used in searching for my son. So with that, I left the case in her hands and waited for a return call.

Within six hours, I had received a call back from the caseworker. Through the military locator service, she was able to determine Shawn’s current location - a hospital in Germany. Due to the fact he was over 18, she couldn’t share any further information with me, but would forward a message to him to contact his family. Although I had few details, just knowing he was alive was enough for me! Relief overcame me and I finally allowed myself to cry for my son—and thankfully, these were tears of joy.

The next day I received a phone call from Shawn – a mere 24 hours after my initial contact with the Red Cross. He had been injured in a truck accident in Bosnia on April 12 and had been sent to a hospital in Germany for surgery and recuperation. He had been unable to contact me because of his condition early on. He had been through surgery and was just beginning rehab. He would be in Germany for another 2 months before returning to the United States. While I couldn’t wait to see him, it was enough to know he would be alright!

Two days later, I received a call from the Red Cross caseworker inquiring if I had heard from my son and making sure everything was alright. With her persistence and dedication to her work at the Red Cross, that caseworker had changed our lives and we were truly grateful for her service. I had never expected to need the help of the American Red Cross. I didn’t even know the Red Cross was involved with the military. It was not until I needed to locate my son Shawn that I realized the role that Red Cross plays. I want to share how much my family appreciated the Red Cross caseworkers and how very thankful I am that Red Cross was there for Shawn and I in our time of need. You are the heroes of this story!”

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Flood Awareness Week: The Red Cross Responds

With more and more extreme weather occurring in recent years—take Superstorm Sandy or the Summer Derecho—expect flooding to intensify, too. The risk of flooding can happen any time and in any of the 50 states. And, it only takes an inch of water to cause extensive damage to a family’s home. Even in areas where excessive droughts have occurred, a quick bout of rain could lead to flash flooding, bringing walls of water 10 to 20 feet high that devastate homes and buildings.

If there is one thing the American Red Cross has learned from recent events, including floods, it’s that being prepared is absolutely critical. As soon as flood warnings are issued, the Red Cross prepositions supplies, identifies shelter locations and places volunteers on call. And when the water begins to rise, Red Cross workers mobilize, opening shelter doors, setting up cots, serving hot meals and handing out blankets to families seeking relief from the deluge.

In March 1982, flood waters flowed through Fort Wayne, inundating the community with water and leaving over 2,000 buildings damaged, costing $56.1 million. With their houses inaccessible, many families and individuals sought aid in the days following the disaster as they begin to repair the damage to their homes and recover from their losses.

Help us provide a safe and dry place to stay, food, emotional support and many other kinds of assistance — whenever and wherever disaster strikes. Give to American Red Cross Disaster Relief today and help us bring vital supplies and relief to people affected by disasters like these floods.

Even when the waters recede, the worst isn’t over for residents tasked with returning to their homes to survey the damage. In these trying times, Red Cross workers are on hand to distribute cleanup kits containing mops, shovels, garbage bags, work gloves and tarps, and to offer emotional support for families sifting through the wreckage. It can take days and even weeks to learn the full extent of water damage following a flood, and the Red Cross remains with survivors on the road to recovery, providing compassionate understanding and helping to develop recovery plans as people begin to rebuild their lives.

Every year the Red Cross spends an average of $345 million on disaster relief. In addition to providing direct relief services to those affected by disasters, this figure also includes costs to maintain warehouses and emergency response vehicles, train volunteers, staff call centers, fund computer systems and keep paid staff ready to provide assistance to people in need. It is through the ongoing support of the public that we can continue to maintain these resources 24/7 and remain ready to respond when disaster strikes.

How YOU Can Help...

You can help people affected by disasters like floods, as well as countless crises at home and across the country, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Click here for the Northeast Indiana Chapter!

3-yr old Fort Wayne Boy Donates to Red Cross

Random Acts of Kindness

By: Jamie Black

During the month of February, one local 3-year old boy was making a big difference in his community by performing a random act of kindess each day. So on February 27th, it was the American Red Cross that Jack Richardson chose to bestow his act of kindness for that day. After seeing a Hurricane Sandy donor appeal commercial, he asked his mother Janet what he could do to help out. With his $5 chore allowance for that week and a package of Winni-the-Pooh band-aids, Jack and his mother came in to the Fort Wayne chapter to give his donation with an open heart.

Katherine Mac Aulay, Chief Operations Officer, was there to accept the donation from little Jack. His kind heart and thoughtful gesture brought joy to all of our hearts as smiles could be seen on all who were present.

"I sat down with Jack and told him that this month's lesson was all about random acts of kindness and what we can do to help other people," said Mrs. Richardson who homeschools her son. "He has a big heart and wanted to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy after seeing the commercial on the TV."

At the end of the day, we all could look back on this tremendous act of kindness from the smallest donor our chapter has ever seen and know that the Red Cross is about people-helping-people...and no matter how small you are, YOU can make a difference!

National Severe Weather Awareness Week Begins: Download the Tornado App Today!

New Tornado App Brings Red Cross Safety Information to Mobile Devices

 

The new American Red Cross Tornado App puts help right into the hands of people who live in or visit tornado-prone areas. Best of all, it’s free and available for iPhone, iPad and Android smart phone and tablet users.

The Red Cross app gives people instant access to local and real time information on what to do before, during and after tornados whether it’s in the community where they live or where they love to vacation.

The app, available in English and Spanish, has a number of features including a high-pitched siren and “tornado warning!” alert that signals when a NOAA tornado warning is in effect. An “all clear!” alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled. People who are out of harm’s way can quickly tap the “I’m safe” button to send a message letting loved ones and friends know they are okay.

People across the country can now receive location-based NOAA tornado, severe thunderstorm and flood alerts on their mobile devices and share them on their social networks. Users can share vital information via Facebook, Twitter, text and email. Even if someone doesn’t live in a tornado-prone area, users can have peace of mind knowing they’ll have instant information about loved ones who live in other parts of the country.

Other features of the app include:

• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members;
• Enhanced weather maps and information provided by Weather Underground, a digital brand of The Weather Company;
• Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to critical action steps even without mobile connectivity;
• Toolkit with a flashlight, a strobe light and an audible alarm;
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters; and
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

Red Cross First Aid, Hurricane, Earthquake and Wild Fire Apps have already been downloaded more than 2 million times. People have not only downloaded the apps, but have used them to track storms, let loved ones know that they are safe, find Red Cross shelter locations and access other recovery resources. Download the apps today. The Tornado App, along with the others, can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

While apps can help prepare you for disasters, they are not a substitute for training. Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED training empowers people to know how to respond to emergencies in case advanced medical help is delayed. Go to redcross.org/takeaclass for information and to register.

Emergency Preparedness Series: Part 3- Shelter-in-Place

Emergency Preparedness:

Part III

Shelter-in-Place

By: Jamie Black

When we last saw our young Red Cross volunteer, she was working in an emergency shelter set up after her city was turned upside down by bombs set off downtown. People both young and old were affected by the disaster, even forcing residents of a nearby senior apartment complex to be evacuated. Thankfully, most of the residents had personal support networks formed in advanced, which allowed them to communicate their whereabouts to family and friends. As the city recovers and things begin to go back to normal, we find our volunteer going over her client casework files related to the downtown bombings,  six months later…

Sitting on the sofa watching the rain stream down the window, she pulls her case files into her lap and takes one last gulp of mid-morning coffee. Even though it had been six months since the bombings downtown, she still had a few loose ends to tie up with her Red Cross clients that were affected during the attack. Flipping through the files, she read through the descriptions of what had taken place that day. “First the ominous boom, then the shrieking of alarms and emergency response vehicles filled the air,” had said one of her clients. This particular client had been in the third floor of his office building when the bombs had went off, and he had explained to her the chaos that ensued after the initial explosion.

“Most of us were confused as to what had caused that horrible sound, but we knew it couldn't be good when our supervisor came in and told us to gather everyone into the conference room. There were no windows in the conference room and as employees crammed into the tight space, you could see the fear spread on our faces.”

She understood the man’s confusion and thought to herself how nerve-racking it would be to be confined to a conference room—with no knowledge of the commotion that was unfolding outside. But what the man did not know was that his supervisor was taking important safety precautions in the event of dangerous air quality due to an explosion or chemical hazard. You should not only take cover if you hear a strange sound like an explosion, but you should also take necessary safety precautions if you see a vapor cloud, smell a strange odor or feel nauseous and/or have burning eyes. In these situations, the outside air quality may be affected to the point that it is not safe to be outside or to evacuate. In these instances, it is usually safer to “shelter-in-place” until wind disperses and moves the material out of the area.

Figure: www.epa.gov provides a diagram of using
duct tape and plastic sheeting to shelter-in-place.

Knowing that her client’s supervisor had the knowledge to shelter-in-place in the event of an explosion gave her some sense of comfort. With his awareness of the situation and knowing how to handle a group of employees under a time of duress, he was able to keep them safe and await further updates about the attacks from within a safe and secure room in their office. When she followed up with her client, he had also remembered his supervisor sealing the conference room’s door with plastic sheeting and duct tape and placing a damp towel underneath the door—which are two critical steps to properly sheltering-in-place. After the room was secured and all heating/cooling systems had been shut off, the group of employees had huddled around a radio to listen for updates. As they listened intently for breaking news about the attack, their supervisor went around and took down names of all present in the room and then called his emergency contact with the room’s roster. As she read over his statement, she recalled how she had followed up with her client’s supervisor and thanked him for his quick thinking and preparedness—because he undoubtedly saved their lives that day.

If you see signs of a potential chemical or biological emergency which affects the outside air quality, there are important steps that you can take at home, at school, at work or in your car to remain safe until the “all-clear” is given.

If you are at home, here are safety tips to sheltering-in-place: 

• Move all people and pets indoors immediately.
• Close all doors, windows and curtains. Use plastic and duct tape to seal o­ any cracks or holes. Use a damp towel to place underneath your doors that can absorb any toxic gases present.
• Close all vents and turn off ventilation systems.
• Select a safe room that is above ground level (avoid basements) that has little to no windows.
• Turn off anything that creates wind, generates extra heat or could generate sparks.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth or handkerchief.
• Listen to radio or TV for public announcements for the “all-clear” signal.

* If you live in an apartment building or in close proximity to your neighbors, it may be beneficial to work together during an emergency to ensure everyone is safe. Share your plan and communicate in advance to better prepare yourself and your neighbors for potential threats.*

If you are in your car when you observe signs of potential chemical or biological hazards that could affect air quality, follow these steps:

• If you are unable to get home quickly, pull over to the side of the road, and avoid areas with prolonged sun exposure—bridges and shady spots are better.
• Close all windows and vents.
• Turn off your engine.
• Seal off heating/air conditioning vents with duct tape if possible.
• Listen to the radio for further updates.
• Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to continue driving.

If you are an educator or administrator at a school, follow these important steps to ensuring the safety of all children present: 

• Activate the school’s emergency plan.
• Select an interior room, above the ground level with the fewest windows or vents.
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting to cover windows or cracks. Place a damp towel underneath the door as well.
• If you can, contact the parents of students.
• Write down and track the names of everyone in your sheltering room.

If you follow these important steps to sheltering-in-place in the event of a disaster, then you are greatly increasing your chances for surviving from any location—whether it is from your home, workplace, school or even your vehicle.

When she finished going over her cases, she reached for the remote to turn on the TV. As soon as the screen came alive, she could hear the blaring sound of the Emergency Alert System coming from the TV and quickly checked the screen for the warning… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING… While details about the warning scrolled across the screen, she saw her two children race down the stairs with pillows, blankets and a flashlight in hand—ready to take shelter immediately. She had taught them well.

She grabbed her cell phone, the battery-operated radio and their emergency supply kit and headed towards the basement with the children. As they made their way down the stairs, she flashed back to her client’s file and how his supervisor had sheltered-in-place for a potential chemical/biological hazard… What are the next steps to sheltering-in-place for severe weather—such as tornadoes or wind storms?

Sheltering-in-place during severe weather is essential, especially when there is the potential for high winds and dangerous debris. Keep in mind these helpful steps to safety:

• Move people and pets indoors immediately and go to your pre-designated shelter location. Underground shelters and basements are best, but if you do not have one—go to the lowest level and choose a small interior room with no windows, such as a closet or bathroom. Mobile home residents should seek shelter elsewhere!
• Crouch under a heavy piece of furniture. Cover yourself with blankets/pillows or mattress and protect your head and neck with your arms.
• Turn on the radio or television in order to hear any Emergency Alert System messages and wait for further instructions.
• Stay inside until you are told that the danger has passed.

Recently, researchers have developed “Safe Room” design plans, which can be used in above ground shelters—like single-story homes or for those with disabilities impairing them from going down stairs. Shelters built below ground level provide the greatest protection, but above ground shelters can also save lives. To protect its occupants, a Safe Room must be able to withstand the forces exerted by high winds, even if the rest of the house is severely damaged or destroyed.

Safe rooms prevent wind-borne debris from reaching
its occupants inside.

• The shelter must be adequately anchored to resist overturning and uplift.
• The walls, ceiling and door of the shelter must withstand wind pressure and resist penetration by wind-borne debris.
• The connections between all parts of the shelter must be strong enough to resist the wind forces without failing.
• If sections of either interior or exterior house walls are used as walls of the Safe Room, they must be separated from the structure of the house so that damage to the house will not cause damage to the shelter.

As the worst of the storm had passed over, the young volunteer held her children close. She was overwhelmed with emotion as she thought about how many times in the past year she had dealt with terrifying situations and how the Red Cross had been in her life—always providing for her well-being, as well as the welfare of others in her community. With the knowledge she had shared with her friends, family members and neighbors about how to be ready for when disasters strike, she was able to help them better prepare for emergencies and educate them on how to be resilient in the face of adversity.

Do your part and get involved with your local Red Cross today. Together, we can provide steadfast hope and swift aid to all those in need!