By Robert W. Wallace, American Red Cross
When Jason Trinklein learned of the historic flooding in
Charleston, South Carolina, he felt an overwhelming urge to provide assistance
to people whose homes were heavily damaged or destroyed by the historic floodwaters.
The Red Cross immediately came to mind, so he made a phone call. “Can you be
here tomorrow morning for training,” asked the Red Crosser on the Charleston
end of that call.
Jason could not get from Long Island, where he is
temporarily living with his parents, to Charleston by the next morning. But he
packed a bag, jumped in his car, and headed south as quickly as he could. When
he arrived, the person at the front desk of the Red Cross Disaster Operations
Center thanked him for his interest but said they already had sufficient
event-based volunteers. Red Cross volunteers go through background checks and
have extensive training for their particular jobs. Event-based volunteers,
those who come forward at the time of a specific event and have not gone
through training, are sometimes utilized, but sparingly.
Jason did not give up. “I drove all the way from Long
Island,” he explained, and after a little persistence on his part, Jason was
told that they would see if they could find a place for him to help. It turns
out that he has been of immense help. “Jason is a [computer] networking
genius,” says Paula Forrest who is in charge of technology at the Red Cross Disaster
Operations Center in Charleston.
Like all other aspects of modern-day life, Red Cross
disaster response is heavily dependent upon access to computer networks, but
getting computer and communications technology in place during a disaster can
be a major challenge, especially when normal communications channels are not
operational. In those cases the Red Cross relies on mobile satellite antennas
for its communication needs. It turns out that Jason had worked for a number of
companies in the Charleston area as a computer and networking specialist. He
has been of immense assistance in keeping the Red Cross technology systems
operational.
Jason’s experience living in Charleston was the major reason
he felt such an urgency to help with the disaster response. He attended the
College of Charleston for his undergraduate studies, and he loved the city so
much he stayed for several years before finally leaving to pursue a Master’s
Degree in Biomedical Engineering. “I love the pace of life in Charleston,” said
Jason. “It has such a strong sense of community….[when the flood happened,] I
just felt compelled to come back and help out.”
Jason is now an official Red Cross volunteer, having
completed the initial requirements during his brief stay here. He is currently
looking for a job and pursuing the use of the teaching credentials he obtained
while at the College of Charleston, despite his initial interest in Biomedical Engineering.
“I find I really like working with children,” he shared. Wherever Jason ends
up, he says that he plans to look up the local chapter of the Red Cross and
continue as a volunteer.
Good for you Jason. Glad you were able to use your skills and help. There are not many of you who would feel so motivated to do what you did!!
ReplyDeleteKaren Lee