By: Jamie Myers, American Red Cross Volunteer

"I love you Jamie, you made my life better.” These words came from a tearful, grateful 84-year-old grandpa, as he hugged me goodbye. Hurricane Milton took every material possession he had, and almost took his life. He arrived at our shelter with glass shards still in his head.

Three weeks prior to this moment, I didn’t know much about the American Red Cross. I attended a routine CPR class that was held in the basement of their Spokane building, which led me to talking with the gals at the front desk. Hurricane Helene had hit four days earlier and the devastation was all over the news. I was eager and willing to help, which is exactly what they needed. Seven days later, after an orientation and some classes, I found myself on a flight to Florida.

Since this was my first deployment, I wasn't sure what to expect. So many emotions came from the 9am phone call that said “we need you in Florida to help set up shelters, can you go now before hurricane Milton makes landfall?” That was followed by my very excited “YES!” and the hustle of quick packing, getting a mission card (a debit card for meals while away), a two-minute shower and loving on the family before leaving for the airport that same day at 4 pm. I chose to catch a red eye flight and landed in Florida at 6 am, where I had a rental car waiting.

When I arrived at the makeshift command center known as Headquarters, I was immediately greeted by a sea of red! It was a powerful, inspiring, unforgettable moment. That morning, we had an 8 am “stand-up” meeting in the banquet room of this hotel turned safe haven/headquarters. "We" were the trained Red Cross Mass Disaster volunteers, men and women — total strangers from around the nation who dropped everything to fly to Florida on a day’s notice to help support our fellow humans.

Over the course of the day, the skies darkened, the winds howled, the rain slammed sideways, and Milton came as promised. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I’d never been in a hurricane and was a bit anxious. I was relieved to see the Army National Guard and law enforcement in our same hotel.

When the storm had passed and the ground stop was lifted, we were put into groups and sent to a specific location to open a shelter, do mass feeding, disaster assessment and much more. There were 65,000+ people and 7,000+ pets seeking shelter from hurricane Milton. While most of them were able to return home to clean up and put their lives back together, some of them had no home to go back to. These were the people in my shelter.

The area I was assigned to was ravaged by multiple deadly tornadoes that spun off from the hurricane. Hearing the stories of what these families endured was heartbreaking. There was a shared sense of shock — and resilience — in their eyes. My heart raced with anxiety and resolve, knowing my role here was critical.

We tirelessly assembled cots with blankets and pillows, made fresh coffee and welcomed each weary person that came through the door. Some had lost everything, some needed minor home repairs, some folks would just stop in for a hot meal or to charge devices. All of them had a story to share and were thankful for a listening ear and a hug.

I was able to visualize the damage for myself. The sheer power of the tornadoes was evident throughout. Trees that once stood tall were scattered across the ground. Homes that were places of comfort and safety had been reduced to piles of debris. Memories and personal items were scattered, telling painful stories of lives interrupted.

Witnessing this magnitude of destruction was a humbling reminder of nature's power and the fragility of our existence. Yet, amid the devastation, the strength and unity of the American Red Cross was ever-present, offering a glimmer of hope throughout the region. Immediately, we were able to provide shelter, food, hot showers, health assessments, mental health counseling, and help people connect with loved ones. We even had veterinary staff come to the shelter for one family’s injured kitty that was found under the rubble one week later.

Another of our shelter residents was Edith, age 82. She came with only the clothes on her back, having called 911 to get to safety as a tornado ripped her home apart. She told me that I was the face of the Red Cross for her, that I was the first person she saw when she came in the doors of our shelter, and that I was the first hug she so desperately needed. She looked me in the eye and said "I'll never forget you.”

Each day brought new challenges and new opportunities to make a real difference in people's lives. It taught me the true meaning of compassion and community. I am honored to be part of such an impactful mission with the American Red Cross. I consider my first deployment beautifully successful, and I look forward to future opportunities to serve.