All postings, comments are my personal ones as a Red Cross Volunteer. Does not represent the Red Cross.
Permission given to post from identifiable people.
As a local Red Cross volunteer, I was notified that they needed help in Coal City, Illinois...with my Gap (training, interests, abilities).
Within a few hours, I and another volunteer were off with our ERV ( Emergency Response Vehicle).
Our deployment was for one week. This was my first deployment so was grateful for Don who had been on many deployments. Many of us also volunteer with other organizations. See link on bottom of post.
We were off and checked in at the Chicago Red Cross office and got our motel assignment. Another ERV and 2 drivers also arrived from the Madison Red Cross office. An hour later, we arrived at our motel...about an hour from Coal City. Closest motel they could find.
The next morning we were off to Coal City and our base of operations was the United Methodist Church. The ladies of the church did a fantastic job of providing meals for the local people who came for help. They also had a lot of inside and outside room for all the donated supplies...which we delivered to the people in the community. Water, cleanup kits, first aid kits, toots, snacks and many other supplies. We always had a third person with us in the ERV, handing out supplies from the window. We would park and walk the streets offering assistance.
People could also come to the church to pick up needed supplies
Many organizations worked together to help this community.
Everyone we met was very positive and grateful for all the help and assistance the Red Cross and other agencies provided!
Wall Mart delivered a whole semi truck load of various supplies to the High School parking lot. Clean up Kits, Tubs for people to use to store items in. Many other items. Thank you Wall Mart!
Will be updated later, but wanted to show a few pictures.
Different ways to get to people in need. Our ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) could not go into some areas at the beginning because of downed power lines.
Permission given to post from identifiable people.
As a local Red Cross volunteer, I was notified that they needed help in Coal City, Illinois...with my Gap (training, interests, abilities).
Within a few hours, I and another volunteer were off with our ERV ( Emergency Response Vehicle).
Our deployment was for one week. This was my first deployment so was grateful for Don who had been on many deployments. Many of us also volunteer with other organizations. See link on bottom of post.
We were off and checked in at the Chicago Red Cross office and got our motel assignment. Another ERV and 2 drivers also arrived from the Madison Red Cross office. An hour later, we arrived at our motel...about an hour from Coal City. Closest motel they could find.
The next morning we were off to Coal City and our base of operations was the United Methodist Church. The ladies of the church did a fantastic job of providing meals for the local people who came for help. They also had a lot of inside and outside room for all the donated supplies...which we delivered to the people in the community. Water, cleanup kits, first aid kits, toots, snacks and many other supplies. We always had a third person with us in the ERV, handing out supplies from the window. We would park and walk the streets offering assistance.
People could also come to the church to pick up needed supplies
Many organizations worked together to help this community.
Everyone we met was very positive and grateful for all the help and assistance the Red Cross and other agencies provided!
Wall Mart delivered a whole semi truck load of various supplies to the High School parking lot. Clean up Kits, Tubs for people to use to store items in. Many other items. Thank you Wall Mart!
Will be updated later, but wanted to show a few pictures.
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| We had 2 ERV'S (Emergency Response Vehicles) from our Milwaukee and Madison Chapter. |
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| Don,Janelle and me. Our team for going into the neighborhoods one day. We always had a third person in our ERV who worked through the window of the ERV...handing out supplies. The 2nd driver would be out of the ERV when it stopped...greeting & talking to the residents. The 3 of us worked very well together as a team. |
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| A good fast way for delivering materials. Salvation Army |
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| A local church gave space for a MARC (Multiple Agency Response Center) where about 30 other agencies on one spot gave help to local people in need. As they left the building, the Red Cross had supplies for them. |
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Pastor Mark Hein from Lockport Township Fire Protection District.
http://www.lockportfire.org/Chaplains_Page.htmSeveral groups came with "Comfort dogs"...great for the children. |
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| /http://www.ignitechristianchurch.org/ A local church had an emergency response vehicle traveling the area offering help for people. The community was well prepared and worked together. |
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| Everyone had a positive attitude! |
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| 2 Salvation Army volunteers with Don in the center. My teammate. |
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| My insurance company set up a spot at the local high school where their clients could get speedy help. Other companies were there also. Long days...usually got back to our motel around 9 p.m. Many Red Cross volunteers also volunteer with other organizations. Don, the other driver also volunteers with a group called SMILES. Smiles You can find me on Linkedin Also Twitter https://twitter.com/RichardDassow |
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