Mike Stead recently retired and moved with his wife to Marathon, a city in the Florida Keys. After spending some time volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with an ambulance service in rural South Dakota, Mike felt t joining the Red Cross Disaster Health Services (DHS) department would be a good fit for him in retirement.  “The staff at my chapter are really nice, very professional, and know me as a person…I started as a shelter associate, am starting as a health services associate, and will soon help my county (Monroe County) with DAT [Disaster Action Team], something I can do ongoing locally,” he said.

Since joining the Red Cross in January 2023, Mike has held many volunteer positions and deployed to three major disaster relief operations across the country. He is currently on his fourth deployment assisting after Typhoon Mawar in Guam. Mike is part of the Disaster Health Services team, helping to provide emergency medical services and supplies to the affected residents across the island.

On Wednesday, May 24, Typhoon Mawar passed over the U.S. territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as a Category 4 storm, bringing hurricane-force winds and torrential rainfall. It is the strongest storm to hit the U.S. Pacific territory of more than 150,000 people in two decades.

Typhoons and hurricanes differ in name only and Mike has personally felt the effects of a Category 4 storm. He said, “My wife and I suffered personally through the damage of Category 4 Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the Red Cross really helped us at the time with hot food and disaster supplies. Additionally, my brother and his wife suffered personally through the damage of Category 4 Hurricane Ian in 2022.” Having been personally affected and having close friends and family affected by disaster, he felt compelled to go to Guam after Super Typhoon Mawar. “I knew what the Guamanians had gone through, and I wanted to help them like the Red Cross helped us in our time of need,” said Mike.

“The Red Cross responds to, in my mind, an almost overwhelming number of disasters. A disaster is anonymous. It affects everyone regardless of their station in life. If there is need, and I have the time, then I will help fulfill the need; it is rewarding work when you see the gratitude from [the people the Red Cross has helped],” he said.

The impacts of Typhoon Mawar are still being felt by residents of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as many residents are still without power and water. The powerful storm flooded homes, ripped off roofs and downed power lines. More than 300 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the United States are on the islands providing shelter, supporting feeding efforts and providing emotional and spiritual support during these challenging times. Help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Written by Dariana Molina, American Red Cross Public Affairs