Red Cross and Partners: Prepped and Ready for Flooding

By: Walt Palmer and Kate Walters, American Red Cross Volunteers

They are here, in the open field, in the brutal sun. They keep cool as best they can, and they stand ready. Thus far, boats have rescued people from rising waters, but these crews await the helicopter flights that will come as the waters from Hurricane Florence begin to flood communities.

And they wait, always at the ready.

Ambulances and trailers at the
Florence airport drop zone. Walt Palmer/Red Cross

The American Red Cross has partnered with Human Emergence and Rapid Transformation, or as they are known, H.E.A.R.T.; a statewide group of volunteer first responders and military personnel that use their specialized training to rescue disaster victims. Hurricane Florence has produced flooding that has people surrounded and cut off. These are just some of the folks who are helping stranded families.

The H.E.A.R.T. Team will get people to this safety zone by helicopter, provide a quick physical evaluation and, if needed, provide immediate transportation to an are medical facility.

Red Cross DMH and DSC teams at the
Florence airport drop zone. Walt Palmer/Red Cross

The Red Cross has provided two teams for this effort: a team of Disaster Mental Health (DMH) specialists; and a team of Disaster Spiritual Care (DSC) specialists.

Christine Gardner is a Red Cross volunteer and mother of three who was able to help out on this disaster because her co-workers at St. Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA picked up six of her 12-hour shifts including a night and a weekend night.

Rodney Jong flew in from Seattle to help. Rodney is a grandfather and a retired LFMT counsellor. He started with the Red Cross in high school and has continued to serve throughout his career. His first deployment with the Red Cross came during the September 11 tragedy.

Keith McLellan has been serving with the Red Cross for six years in a wide variety of roles. It was during debriefing from one deployment that his supervisor suggested he should look at serving in the spiritual care area. As we talked, he reminded me that “Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present” (John Maxwell) and that “the Red Cross offers people that hope” during the chaos of disaster.

The H.E.A.R.T. and Red Cross team and the
Florence Airport drop zone. Walt Palmer/Red Cross

Carl Seitz had a full career as a firefighter, retired, then became an ordained minister. He specializes in “serving those who serve” and sees disaster spiritual care as a “ministry of presence” providing active listening so that victims' stories can be heard and their healing can begin. He still ministers to first responders.

So far, the rescues have been by boat, but when the helicopters begin bringing in folks, this pop-up facility will kick into high gear. When a person arrives at the facility, they will be given a very quick physical examination by the H.E.A.R.T. Team as well as being offered the chance to talk to one of the Red Cross volunteers. 

The EMTs will be looking for people who need immediate medical attention, a team of firefighters will be providing vital decontamination for people who have been stranded in flood waters – exposed to chemical and biological contaminants. After going through the necessary checks, evacuees will be given the chance to speak with Red Cross volunteers, trained in mental and spiritual care.

Word arrives that another community has been cut off by the rising waters. The water is headed this way. These highly-trained specialists are prepped and ready to serve. Their finest hour is near.

For more information on flood safety, please visit:

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html