“It feels good doing this kind of work, even at 4 o’clock in the morning. You’re a dedicated person as soon as you’re on that calling list,” said Gene McCray, disaster action team (DAT) volunteer, regarding responding to fires throughout the county.
The team members are first-responders to any type of disaster, frequently fires.
In the past five years alone the team has responded to 460 fires in the Stark County area.
According to Dee Christner, DAT captain, upon getting a call that a fire has started the team is on-site rehabbing firemen and providing family services immediately.
Red Cross expenses incurred from these services total roughly $420 per fire. Rehabbing firemen involves hydrating and feeding them while family services are much more complex.
“We are told in advance about how many clients (fire victims) we are dealing with,” said Christner. “As soon as we get there we make sure their immediate needs are taken care of – providing them with food, shelter, clothing, comfort kits including personal hygiene items and quilts made by Red Cross sewing ladies.”
For many clients, the quilt is their first possession after the fire, she added.
Many clients need more than material possessions, though, after their lives have been altered by such a disaster.
“Some just want a place to put their head and cry and we are just there,” said Christner.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment