DETROIT (Oct. 5, 2022) – Leaders from the American Red Cross Michigan Region on Wednesday provided an update about the Hurricane Ian disaster relief and response efforts in Florida, and two volunteers shared stories of heartbreak and gratitude from people impacted by the storm they are comforting.
Currently, the Michigan Region has deployed 47 volunteers, one of the largest contingents of volunteers among all Red Cross Regions across the country. Collectively, more than 1,500 Red Crossers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are supporting the relief efforts.
“It’s been a week since Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida and the Red Cross is working day and night, alongside our partners to provide food, shelter and comfort for people facing the heartbreaking devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian,” said Mary Lynn Foster, regional chief executive officer, said during a briefing with reporters. “With help from our partners, we’re reaching out to offer relief and support so that no one faces this tough time alone.”
Darwin Roche, regional chief disaster officer, said the five Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) from the Michigan Region are among more than 80 ERVs delivering “tens of thousands of meals and relief supplies to people struggling in the hardest hit areas.” In addition, the Red Cross has provided:
“The Red Cross helps anyone in need after a disaster, and everyone is welcome in our shelters,” Roche said. “All disaster assistance is free, and we don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter – just their name and where they were living before the disaster.”
Roche said disasters “can cause feelings of uncertainty and anxiety since no one knows what could potentially happen next,” he said. “We want people to know that the Red Cross is here to support them throughout this relief effort.”
Patricia Nelson and Tom Westgate are among the Michigan team of volunteers deployed in Florida. Both are seasoned volunteers who have seen their share of disaster sites. Nelson is working as the daytime kitchen manager at a mega-shelter in Daytona Beach that can house up to 1,000 people. Westgate and his wife Mary are piloting one of the Michigan Region ERVs that are being used to distribute food and water to people impacted by Hurricane Ian in north Fort Myers.
“This is a tough one on these folks,” Westgate said from the driver’s seat of his parked ERV as Mary was serving food through a window in the back of the vehicle. “I’ve never seen Hurricane damage like this.” This was the couple’s 50th deployment with the Red Cross.
“These people have no power, still,” he said, his voice trailing in and out from the spotty internet connection. “I think it’s like 90 degrees out.”
Westgate and Nelson each described devasting flooding and destruction. Westgate said he and his wife came across a woman who needed rescuing. “Get me outta here,” the woman told them. They drove to the local Fire Department, which then dispatched a rescue team to the scene.
Nelson, who has been on previous hurricane deployments, called this one the most difficult. “The devastation is so immense,” she said, adding some neighborhoods were still under four to six feet of water. “It’s affected almost everybody.”
Nelson shared the stories of two families she has come to know at the mega-shelter. Both, like the families before and after them, came to the shelter with the “clothes on their back they have been wearing for days after their homes were flooded. People have lost everything.”
Nelson said she and her fellow Red Crossers provide “wonderful comfort care” to the families in the shelter. That includes a lot of listening. Then there’s the food line, where Nelson and her teammates try to lift up their clients’ spirits.
“Our motto is no client leaves our food line without a smile,” she said.
One boy appreciated the service so much he approached Nelson about helping Red Cross volunteers. He was given the task of stacking bottles of water, juice and sports drinks for snack and mealtimes. The other day during a teary-eyed recognition, the boy was given a smock with the words “honorary volunteer” written on it and signed by Nelson and her Red Cross teammates.
“After it was over,” Nelson said, “he came up to me and made me ‘pinky swear’ that when he turns 18 and can volunteer with the Red Cross, that I’d still be running hurricanes. And that one day, he and I would one day be running a hurricane together. I’m going to keep that promise to that little boy.”
People who want to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, here are three ways:
MAKE A DONATION. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word IAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters.
GIVE BLOOD: Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets today by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
VOLUNTEER: You can make a significant impact as a Red Cross volunteer. Review the most urgently needed volunteer positions at redcross.org/volunteertoday.
“If you’re able to contribute in any one of these ways, we would be most grateful,” Foster said. “Our hearts break for the people impacted by Hurricane Ian and other disasters like Hurricane Fiona and the wildfires out West. I’m really proud of our Michigan volunteers who are helping those affected and will continue to do so in the weeks and months to come.”
MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz | david.olejarz@redcross.org | 313-303-0606