Back from Deployment 691-26. American Red Cross -- Milwaukee Flood

As I joined my normal coffee group upon returning the entire table said -- "so, tell us about it."

And it is almost never possible to explain all the things that make these deployments one of the most satisfying activities I have engaged in over my career. And when I tell a story about mopping up someone's vomit or having to call 9-1-1 for a person having a health crisis it just does not sound like "fun" of fulfilment, yet the whole is definitely when you add in all the parts.  So, if you read anything that piques your interest I hope you will call 600-RedCross and ask what it takes to being the volunteer process. And when you do, know that people who volunteer to man the shelters or provide the feeding are the unsung heros of the disaster recovery. 

My job on this deployment was as Night Shift Supervisor - 7 pm to 7 am.  I think our team got to the shelter each day by 6, and some days earlier.  We were always anxious to hear about how their day passed and what issues we might want to look out for overnight.  Those shift hand offs were always valuable.

For purposes of making long stories short in this blog I will just bullet point some thing I saw and some of the amazing givers who made the things happen. Know that when you have a shelter situation with nearly 50 residents the number of little things and big things quickly seem to become the regular daily living.

• There was a new mother with a month-old daughter in the shelter.  Several of the shelter workers would spend some time helping to hold and rock the small new person to give her mother breaks through the day. 
• At the end of lunch and at the end of dinner the feeding guys woul ensure they packed up some meals for those people we knew were working and would not be getting back to the shelter until late.  And those same feeding guys were plating meals that came from a local university for residents who were in the shelter. 
• We had a multi-stall portable shower that was turned on twice each day for a couple of hours each time.  And these showers were a much appreciated perk, since it had taken a few days after the flood disaster for those showers to get to the shelter.  And, a one of the jobs done several times a day was ensuring those showers were clean.
• And you could set your apple watch by the seven year old who came out to the front every night asking if it was "nak" time yet.  His timing was nearly spot on.  
• As days progressed and the shelter experience began wearing down residents they were often bolstered when the Shelter Resident team was able to tell them they had a strong possiblity of a new place to live that they would be able to check out.
• And at other times the lift would come from shelter workers, feeding workers. health service workers or other Red Crossers who came in having one-to-one conversations -- sometimes on crucial subjects but more often on how they were doing, what they were hoping -- you know, the same kinds of things you might discuss over your coffee shop coffee.
• a major role of the shelter workers and what makes them among the heros of the disaster relief operation is that help establish a normalcy that gives a feeling of security and HOPE.

This post is probably already too long but for the next one, I want to discuss how interesting those who are the volunteers make this experience so valuable for their colleagues in our two weeks or longer together on the DRO committment.

Rememb er 1-800-RedCross or send me an email at dpuffer@gmail.com and I will help you get started on the volunteer process.  It is so amazing to know that you can make even a little difference when somone is at one of the lowest points of their life.

What follows is the message to volunteers from the last director of the operation so you can have a sense of the appreciation the Red Cross does have for its volunteer work force.

This is the final note to volunteers from the Incident Action Plan -- 

Director's Intent/Message

 Hello Team, For the last two weeks I have had the honor and privilege to be your job director on this operation.

I have not only seen but have heard about the tremendous collaboration between the local volunteers and deployed staff. When this disaster happened the local and regional volunteers and staff answered the call and took care of our clients.

Thanks to everyone’s tremendous efforts we provided 1,500 shelter stays, delivered almost 4,000 meals, and 8,600 snacks. DES gave out 3,000 cleanup kits and nearly 16,000 other items.

 Thank you is a short little statement; however, it conveys so much. To those that toiled in their backyard. To those that travelled from afar. To our virtual teammates, who were an indispensable force multiplier. Thank you! To all of you.

 Please get some rest and enjoy some time off with your family and friends. We will see you on the next one. For there will always be, the next one.

 Mike Green Job Director 

Mission first, Service above Self

 Trees for Tomorrow Helps Hartsville Stay A Tree City 

Planning, Planting, Pruning, Removing and Resourcing 

Since Donna Tucker got her husband, Howard, to take her place on the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce's Beautification Committee more than 35 years ago, he estimates he has been involved in the planting of more than 3,000 trees, the pruning of countless and the removal of hundreds more around our city. 

Urban trees quickly became a hobby if not an obsession for Howard. He pursued this hobby while maintaining his optometry practice 

(1963-2005). Howard continues to care for

our trees and to work closely with the city 

arborist, Steven Wild and his crews. 

Hartsville trees have been a life’s work for 

Howard and many of his friends, as well 

as many city employees as our town 

works to retain its Tree City designation. 

The beauty of our downtown owes much 

to the serious planning, intentional 

planting, continuous pruning, judicious 

removing and restoring, and continuous 

work finding the resources. 

Howard has story after story about the 

hard work citizens have taken over the 

years to care for our green city.. Some 

people reading this may remember Frank 

Prehoda going up and down Hartsville 

streets with his assistant Becky Geise 

using various watering inventions to keep 

Hartsville trees alive and thriving in the 

deep hot days of South Carolina 

summers. 

Howard, who likes the planning, 

pruning,and resources side says that 

Frank was a one-man watering squad for 

more than 25 years.They had help from 

other volunteers and many of those names

show up in the minutes of the Environmental Committee and Trees for Tomorrow Committee, which was originally proposed to the Hartsville Chamber by Joe and Betty Wiggins. 

PRIDE OF PLACE 

If you engage Howard about the why of trees he will probably reply with a question: "Don't you think the city looks good because of our attention to the trees?" Howard believes that trees are one sign of the pride a community has in its environment. He is a strong believer that people should take care of their property and the community property they use. (He hates littering!) 

Howard, who happens to be 88, has been hooked on the idea of taking care of your space for pretty much his entire life beginning in his Monroe, NC, childhood. Little makes him more angry than intentional disregard for our environment from discarded trash to long-empty falling down, 

burned out buildings. Every morning on his daily multi-mile walk around sidewalks and streets of his expanded Laurel Oak neighborhood you can see him picking up trash that someone tossed. He will tell you he does not have any understanding of why people justify dropping their trash where they are. He remembers his neighbors in Monroe (many of whom had few luxuries) having major pride of place. And he often longs for those good old days. 

Howard does his part daily. 

TREES MAKE THINGS COOL AND BEAUTIFUL 

Trees are part of this philosophy and likely the most obvious because trees distinguish a street, a campus, a downtown, a retail environment, even Mega-store parking lots. Hartsville had a major push in the mid to late 1980s to get the community's focus on creating a healthy tree environment. In 1987 those efforts were realized with Hartsville’s first Tree City designation. 

Howard Tucker has kept a personal focus on trees around Hartsville. He worked to move the Trees for Tomorrow fund raising arm of the Chamber committee to an independent non profit organization to help develop continuing resources for the planting and managing of trees. He has built relationships with all the city managers, and the city workers who work on trees and the city's professional arborist to continue focused discussions on where the needs are and how 

they might be addressed. Howard plays a unique role in this situation as his major platform is that he is a concerned citizen who is willing to put in the time to help make things happen. 

And as a citizen, his tree-focused vision can encompass ideas for city projects,retail operations, church appeal and even advice for people looking to improve their home landscapes. 

HARTSVILLE NEEDS THE ATTENTION TO TREES 

Howard has kept his attention on the trees. Now, who are some of the others living in our community who love the environment, understand the importance of planned shade, the continuous need for the upkeep of living beauty, who will step up to fill the shoes of those who have set this standard of community excellence?