By Patricia Kemp, Communications Manager, American Red Cross
Tina Branham was at home with her three kids Oct. 3 when the
rain began to fall. She logged into Facebook to check out the social media
chatter. Severe weather was the hot topic.
The rain was relentless and water started to rise on the
driveway. “I wanted to get out before we had to swim out,” said Tina, who is
pregnant with her fourth child. “I was like, it’s time to go because if I wait
any longer, I can’t carry three kids by myself. If I stayed it would’ve caused
more stress for my family.”
Tina’s husband works nights in a Georgia factory, and wasn’t
able to reach her and their children Thomas, 10, Christopher, 7, and
7-month-old baby girl, Laila. Tina remained calmed and assured him she would
get the kids out of the house. She started planning an exit strategy and turned
again to social media to see what she should do and where she could go. She
clicked on the American Red Cross Lowcountry South Carolina Facebook page
and got some answers.
Tina packed a bag of clothes for each of the kids and headed
to the nearest shelter the high school in Summerville the Red Cross told her
about on Facebook. They were the first to arrive.
Tina found volunteers were just as friendly face-to-face as
they are online.
“The Red Cross has been so nice to us,” she said. “We
found a place where people can come and feel comfortable and lift their spirits
a little bit since they kind of got ripped from their house.”
Over the next several days, nearly 100 more people displaced
by the flood began filling the shelter and Tina helped them navigate the new
terrain. She also allowed them to help themselves to her stash of supplies.
“I gave another mother some diapers and my Red Cross blanket,”
she said.
Tina called her husband once the kids were settled to let
him know they were safe, and of course she updated her Facebook status for all
her friends.
Follow the American Red Cross of
South Carolina on Twitter @RedCrossSC
and Facebook at facebook.com/RedCrossCentralSC
for all the updates on flood relief.
HOW TO HELP
After a major disaster, financial donations are the quickest
and best way to get help to the people who need it most. You can help people
affected by disasters like the flooding in South Carolina and countless other
crises by making a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS
or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift helps
provide food, shelter and more to those affected by disasters.
No comments:
Post a Comment