Deploying from my computer: a peek into a virtual disaster response with the Red Cross

 

By Caroline King, Executive Director, Red Cross of Northern and Eastern Maine 

You can’t see the people or the damage and there are no Red Cross hugs, but we have gotten really good at sharing screens and multi-tasking while still paying attention.  I have deployed many times in person, but this time I am happy to have my puppy dog under my desk as I work remotely from Maine to support the work of the Red Cross in New Jersey following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida. 

The stories are many – we are expecting the birth of new baby any day now at the shelter – have we thought about the crib and the diapers that new mom will need, why yes – they are already waiting for the family and the older siblings might need a few new toys which are being delivered from our warehouse this afternoon.  The clients have been stuck in hotels, some for many weeks now, far from their destroyed homes, away from their usual supports like the neighborhood coffee shop and their jobs so often, all we can do is take the time to hear their story and then help them to plan their recovery.  

My work as an Elected Official Liaison (EOL) mostly revolves around connecting the dots, but the lines of my role are sometimes blurry – I am a problem solver and if it impacts our clients, our volunteers or our partners, I might have a seat at the table. For example, does the mayor know how to help his community access Red Cross services – a phone number, a website, a caseworker to meet with the family? What about that multi-story building that is now boarded up –  we know it is destroyed, but how do we track down all the families that used to live there? And what about the elderly couple without the internet who are still waiting for someone to come to help them and they can’t eat pasta for dinner because it will cause their blood sugar to spike? Sometimes, the Red Cross EOL must also just be there to pick up the phone and say hello. You can never tell who is going to be on the other end of the line or what kind of gap or need they may have.      

Every day, we start with a Stand-Up call for the entire disaster operation– a quick check-in on what’s on the day's to-do list. Then I take part in the Leadership Team meeting where we iron out the details – opportunities, challenges, unexpected needs and how we will deliver our humanitarian mission to hundreds of folks across New Jersey quickly and efficiently. Later in the afternoon, we touch base with our External Relations team to get the latest updates from the Elected Official Liaison, Government Operations, Fundraising and Public Affairs functions.

Yesterday for example, we also had Flash Flood Warnings – and we crossed our collective fingers and toes that the same communities that were impacted by Tropical Storm Henri, tornadoes and Hurricane Ida, wouldn’t see more damage. We are glad to report that the storm passed without incident.

As a Red Crosser, I know part of my role is to figure how to best support the volunteers – many of them from right here in Northern New England and some serving for the first time.  Do they need a friendly hello by text or a special thank you for the amazing work they do as if it is no big deal? The days are long and the work unrelenting, but we must take care of the helpers too!  The Red Cross is a big organization and our volunteers might need help to connect to resources, disaster mental health, job training or to find the right person to help them navigate a tricky Red Cross system. 

Since I am serving virtually, I also have a time to check in with the Red Cross board members to wrap up the board campaign, strategize with volunteer services on how to recruit more volunteers in Houlton, Maine and even jump on the recent State of the Region call as we look back on all we accomplished last fiscal year and talked about the Red Cross plans we have for the year ahead. 

Here at home, as well as in New Jersey and around the county, the Red Cross continues to respond to home fires, represent the Red Cross in hometown events and even spread the word about making a home fire evacuation plan. Just today, we sent two more folks to Sacramento, California to work in a wildfire evacuation shelter, responded to a home fire in Old Town, Maine, prepared our teams for a potential flood here in Northern New England and continue to support clients from the apartment building fire in Lewiston, Maine a few weeks ago. 

For more information on how you can become a Red Cross volunteer, visit: redcross.org/volunteer