Collection: Red Cross Volunteer Thoughts/Experiences

[sparkie]

I am starting this thread to show a collection of actual American Red Cross experiences that I had or saw, that I find on the internet and other sources.

I have yet to directly place blame on Red Cross. Maybe because it would be like blaming a church or other volunteer organization.

What do you think?

What did you see?

I left Red Cross in the dust in San Antonio on my 4th day w/ them for hurricane Rita. I "borrowed" 1 of their rental vehicles and headed into the disaster areas of Rita and then Katrina.

I left them because........they were "forced" to be too slowwwwwwwwwww! :chatter:

I had places to go and people to see so I guess I was self-assigned! :lol:

I had signed up on their Damage Assessment team & waited, but I figured one of the first steps to assessing damage is to ACTUALLY see it. And saw I did. From Beaumont, Tx to New Orleans, by myself and gave various aid & reports when & where I could.

Tell me some of your stories...Please.

Maybe we can improve Red Cross for future disasters.

P.S. I saw Salvation Army more than Red Cross in the actual disaster areas.

My future $ would go to SA & not RC.

You also may want to check out our forum for Comfort & Support. I ran into many unpleasant or uneffective people. :mad: I divided them into 2 groups:

Friend or Foe

Comfort & Support link: http://livewire.fm/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

Bye,
Pam aka Sparkie
Pam@Livewire.FM

[sparkie]

From Yahoo Group, Volunteers Coming Home:

"I feel compelled to tell you that the bureaucracy of the Red Cross has a
trickle effect onto the people directly affected by this tragedy. I
have to say there were numerous encounters with the Red Cross and
their representing volunteers that were less that respectful
especially towards other volunteer personnel and agencies.

I am starting to understand that disaster response is a big business.

In advance I apologize to anyone who reads this that has volunteered
with the Red Cross and feels differently, these are my opinions only.
The need for volunteers is great despite what you are told by
this "big brother" organization.

If you would like information on some of these agencies, please email me. "

From: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VolunteersComingHome/message/4?threaded=1

[sparkie]

"In this day and age I can not believe that the "government's" role has fallen so far short of where it should be. If it were not for the "Street Rebels" so many would not have been helped at all.

Since those not with Red Cross, FEMA and other "official" organizations
have no red tape to deal with - solutions can be instant."

Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VolunteersComingHome/message/74

[NicoMoon]

Hi Pam!

I just lost a nice long response.....grrrrr...!!!

I want to echo what you're saying here. If we remain dependent upon government and the large bureaucratic relief agencies we are doomed.

Volunteerism, inter-personal networking, strong support groups, are the way to go.

It's our plan to continue to build and grow on the experiences we had, both we the "stay-at-homes" and the "on-the-ground" volunteers to hone our skills and resources to be ready for any crisis or emergency.

The message of self-sufficiency has to be sent, over and over and over again, it's really an urgent and vital need, as the Katrina disaster has proved.

We can do so much more as direct aid volunteers working side by side with other direct aid volunteers than we can ever do by simply supporting the Red Cross by sending checks.

The Red Cross does some things well, and a lot of things very badly. We, the people who could ourselves be in need at some point, really do have to make sure that the bases are covered. And let's face it, that means covering them ourselves!

And that's exactly what we're here for. To learn, grow, get bigger and stronger.

[sparkie]

I just posted this reply at TheAdminZone.com and thought i'd paste it here too. I am replying to a man who was red cross for rita and worked w/ bulk distribution.

Link: http://www.theadminzone.com/forums/showthread.php?p=114351#post114351



I have wondered if the Red Cross Police are coming to get me but I doubt it. They probably lost any & all paperwork weeks ago on me.

And if they did show up to give me a hard time for my effective & rapid help, then I guess I would be forced to fully explain why I did it. Bad PR...I don't want to hurt them cause, I am assuming, they usually do good.

It was actually smoother and calmer for me once I left Red Cross, ironic huh? In fact, it was sortof easy and like I had a guardian angel or two traveling w/ me. Also, recently my dad passed and just maybe he was helping too.

I will do it in a heartbeat again. If I had followed Red Cross rules, once I ever heard them, I would of spent those 4 days laying up in a 4 star Marriott waiting for an assignment...maybe gone shopping and sightseeing too. I normal follow rules but not in this case....no regrest. I should of left on day 2 when I first started considering it.

BTW, I creatviely turned in that new rental car at New Orleans airport when I flew home. I even returned it 2 weeks early according to the rental paper in glovebox (w/o my name on it). I know that volunteers & rentals were lost even b4 they arrived!

Yes, it worked well> It was very rewarding, fulfilling and gratifying. I really need to write it all down cause it was alot...many differnt situations. And, somehow, I managed to get 4 arrest threats too. Remember, I am a former MP SGT and no criminal record. But, funny things happen in St. Bernard & Calcasieu Parish.

Next time, go w/ me.

I am planning to go back down the first week of Christmas break w/ my local high school, about 100 kids. I will try to follow rules then.

To be effective in disaster & emergencies, it helps to be creative, resourceful & think outside the box.

But, I also know what you were doing was very important too. I stopped by one of the few Red Cross feeding lines and got a case of good, commercial Ready-to-Heat meals. It was a nice change from MRE's but I guess I never ate one. I gave 4 to 2 remote Blackwater security team in a remote location cause they were getting little/no support from their group. Just an example of what I did. Oh, and I ran into them while I was chasing down a stray dog for the Winn DIxie animal rescue group. We were camped in a flooded winn dixie parking lot, hence the name.

I guess I am done rambling.

Bye,
Pam aka Sparkie

www.Livewire.FM

Communication Director

Pam@Livewire.FM