Local Volunteers Help Illinois Disaster Relief Operation

Red Cross volunteers Charlotte Surratt, Joe Baird, Carrie Smith and Mike Sewell.

This past weekend, as most Kentuckiana residents prepared for “the greatest two minutes in sports,” four local American Red Cross volunteers were on their way out of the Commonwealth. In the midst of Kentucky Derby madness, Carrie Smith, Mike Sewell, Joe Baird and Charlotte Surratt traveled to Illinois where they will assist with the Midwest flood response in Arlington Heights and Peoria.

The four volunteers collectively have more than 15 years of disaster response experience with the Red Cross. For this disaster operation, each of them will help provide client casework services to people affected by flooding. Client caseworkers work one-on-one with families and individuals to determine what kind of help they need to get back on their feet following a disaster.

Charlotte Surratt is a retired EMT/CNA/Cake Decorator. A jack of all trades, she began volunteering at the Fort Knox Red Cross a few years ago. She assists the Fort Knox office with everything from the Helping Hands program which provides household furniture and goods for soldiers, to meeting with military families before oversea deployments. Along with her weekly responsibilities in Fort Knox, she tries to serve on at least two disaster operations each year.

“This is my heart, going out on disasters,” Charlotte said. “This is what I was supposed to do.”

Charlotte is trained in several disaster response areas. Following Superstorm Sandy, she traveled to West Virginia where the storm dumped 2-3 feet of snow before moving on to the northeast. In West Virginia, she was in charge of ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) dispatch. Drifts of snow along with icy roads and fallen tree limbs prohibited driving in much of the mountainous area, so it was important for Charlotte to send ERVs to central locations that people could travel to on foot.

Charlotte knows it’s important to remain flexible on disaster operations, but she will say that casework is her favorite as she gets to meet people (and pets!) and be there for them when they need it most.

“A lot of times they’re so grateful to see you they burst into tears. They all have a story and they want you to listen to them.”

A total of 15 volunteers from throughout the Kentuckiana Region are in Illinois helping provide food, supplies, emotional support and health services. The Red Cross will be there to support affected communities until well after the flood waters recede. To support Red Cross disaster efforts, please make a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Across the country

Here flood waters rise in West Point, KY, one of the Kentuckiana areas hit hardest by extensive rain in April.

The month of April lived up to its showery reputation this year, causing destruction throughout the U.S. by way of flooding and severe storms. Workers from the American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter are responding, not only at home, but throughout Kentucky and Alabama.

In Paducah, KY, flooding from the Ohio has kept residents out of their homes and Red Cross workers from completing damage assessment in the hardest hit areas. A shelter opened on April 25th and has hosted at least 19 people each night. Many Red Cross workers from the Louisville Area Chapter have deployed to Paducah to provide support in areas including damage assessment, client casework and fundraising. In the photo to the right, Bill Franz from LATA Kentucky presents a $6,600 donation on behalf of LATA Kentucky and its management team to Diane Davis (third from left), senior philanthropy advisor, and Kerry Graul (fifth from left), site director, of the American Red Cross surrounded by members of the American Red Cross team in Paducah, KY.

LAC volunteers, Paul Stensrud and David Vandermullen travelled to Cullman, Alabama in a Red Cross Emergency Communications Response Vehicle (ECRV). The vehicle is equipped to set up emergency communications in areas where power and phone lines are out of service. Entire communities remain without power after tornadoes ripped through the state in late April. The vehicle will allow the Red Cross disaster operation to adequately provide assistance to those affected by the disaster.

As the Midwest flooding and tornadoes in the South have proven, disaster can strike at any time. Please prepare yourself and your family before disaster hits. Visit www.redcross.org for more disaster preparedness tips.