On the Tuesday after Memorial Day, I reported to the
American Red Cross Headquarters at Shawnee, Oklahoma. The headquarters was located on land owned by
the Citizens of the Potawatomi Nation.
They graciously opened a newly constructed office building for use by
the disaster team.
I knew my in-processing by Red Cross would cover all
of the morning. I hoped to be on site
somewhere by noon. During the hours of
processing, a clear picture developed – the Red Cross is awesome. The task of bringing together hundreds of
volunteers, organizing them, and preparing them is huge. The Red Cross accomplishes these tasks with
great success.
During in-processing, I registered my lodging at
NCED. I registered the Avis rental car.
I reported to my supervisor. I heard how
to personally respond to weather emergencies forecast for the day. I participated in orientation. I secured my Red Cross issued cell
phone. I found out about my first assignment at the
MARC (Multiple Agencies Resources Center) in Oklahoma City. Each task was accompanied by lots of paper
work and lots of double checking on the details. I accomplished all of these important tasks
in a few hours. During the few hours, I
completed those tasks with lots of smiling Red Cross faces helping me
along.
Now, why is the American Red Cross awesome? Because they helped not only me, but hundreds
of people! They are awesome because
hundreds of volunteers were processed, recorded, encouraged, trained, encouraged,
out fitted with equipment, encouraged, assigned, transported, encouraged, fed,
watered, encouraged, and sent forth from the headquarters on the land of the
Citizens of the Potawatomi Nation. The
American Red Cross is awesome!
I began working in the MARC on Tuesday at
11:30. The MARC is hard to picture. We were in one section of a large high school,
Westmoore High School. Red Cross
organizes a MARC in a common court space and other helping organizations setup
in the MARC too. Hence the word Multiple
is in the name MARC.
In some ways, the MARC looks like a giant flea
market. Tables and chairs are placed throughout
the common area. Banners from each
organization are hung from poles, support braces, and the ceiling. The MARC is loud (a hundred or so people
talking at once), active, and comforting.
While most flea markets are selling things to make a profit, the Red
Cross Marc is giving away help, compassion, and hope. All in all, the MARC is a good place to be if
you want to help those who really need help.
In Disaster Mental Health, I look for folks who display
signs of significant emotional distress.
Then I just offer to listen to their “story”. I listen to their explanation of loss,
trauma, pain, fear, relief, and remorse.
I listen to their account of survival, joy, relief, guilt, hope, and
need. I talk with children who have come
to the MARC with parents. I chat with
Red Cross volunteers who may have worked too many hours without a break, who
may have missed lunch or supper, who may feel too close to the trauma, who may
wonder are they really helping anyone, and who may need someone to say, “You
are doing awesome work with these folks.”
Sometimes the pain goes deeper. I talked with a nine-year-old who lay on the
school floor underneath his teacher and heard his friend die from the tornado
destruction. I patted a retiree on the
shoulder while I heard an explanation of survivor’s remorse and why she should
be giving help, not getting help. I
listened to a military veteran who wondered if anyone really wanted to help or
was everyone just trying to give him the run around. I did what any counselor would do. I listened; I gave reflection and empathy; I re-framed I helped them recognize the next few steps to take; I normalized the
feelings they were experiencing; I listened; I encouraged; I hoped I helped
them.
I do not believe any day on Red Cross disaster relief
can be called a typical day. And,
Tuesday was not an exception to my belief.
The MARC was to be open until 7 pm.
We had to close at 4 pm.
Why? Severe weather was forecast
for Oklahoma City and we had to leave Westmoore High School. We gave tickets and/or took names for every
person who was waiting in-line when we closed early. The people seeking help were disappointed,
but they did understand the stark reality of a weather warning. Tomorrow, we do it all again. I hope I will help them.
