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Note: This is the 11th in a weekly series of articles submitted by the United
Way of Union County that will run during the course of its annual campaign. Each week will feature a different
United Way program. This week’s article features the American Red Cross Union County Chapter.
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Hoping to make a small difference in her community, Renee Hatfield signed up to volunteer with the American
Red Cross Disaster Services Team three years ago. After taking classes in Marysville and becoming certified through
the Union County Chapter, she responded to a few fire runs, helping to meet the needs of local residents whose
homes were damaged or destroyed. She also participated in mock disasters conducted by the Emergency Management
Agency.
Then 10 days after one of the most devastating storms in American history swept through the Gulf Coast, the Marysville
accountant, wife, and mother of three found herself in the eye of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, in charge of
operating one of the two largest emergency shelters nearest New Orleans. 1,800 residents and hundreds of rescued
animals called the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana home when she arrived on the scene as Shelter
Manager. Her training in Marysville put her in position to assume a coordinating role of such great responsibility.
“When I signed up to be a volunteer, I wanted to be able to learn as much as possible to be able to help wherever
I was needed,” Hatfield said. “I hoped that if a disaster ever hit Union County, that I would be able to put my
training into place and help run things in as smooth a way as possible. I didn’t think I would be assigned so close
to New Orleans, let alone in charge of a very large shelter.”
Watching the devastation on TV caused Hatfield to confer with her family and decide that she should sign up to
help with this disaster. She figured she’d simply be asked to help process paperwork in Texas, Arkansas, or even
Columbus. But a series of unusual events led to her assignment at such a key post.
The plane she took from Columbus had to make an emergency landing because it had run out of fuel. That caused her
to arrive late to Jackson, Mississippi, where she ended up being sent to the wrong shelter overnight. From there,
she was sent to Brandon, Mississippi where she and other Red Cross volunteers from around the country awaited a
trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, headquarters of relief efforts. |
| Marysville's Renee
Hatfield (right), a Red Cross volunteer, served as
a Shelter Manager at one of the largest shelters outside New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Here
she takes a moment from her hectic schedule to pose with a pair of grateful evacuees, Laquisha and Floyd. Hatfield
helped to reunite Laquisha with her mother and 8-month old daughter by contacting other shelters and hospitals
after she'd been separated from them by the hurricane. Floyd was a thankful shelter resident coming to express
his gratefulness. |
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hapter.
“When arriving in Baton Rouge Headquarters, it was in an old Wal-Mart and was quite
large and overwhelming at first,” Hatfield said. “I went through the check-in process, which took several hours
before I was given my assignment. When they found out I had Shelter Operations and Mass Care certification along
with my own income tax business, that’s when they asked me to be a Shelter Manager. The group that had traveled
with me had asked if they could continue to be with me wherever I was assigned and they were assigned as my crew.”
Hatfield was originally given a shelter that housed 282 residents, but was switched
the next day to the much larger facility she called home for three weeks.
“When I first said hello to the shelter residents, there was a blank stare on all of them, as if I were speaking
a foreign language or they didn’t hear me,” Hatfield said. “I knew right then that they needed to have every ounce
of compassion and listening skills I could muster. Over time, I would interact with as many as I could and talk
with them, sit, or just listen to their fears, concerns, and most of all, their needs.
“Some told me how they arrived there and what they went through while awaiting the hurricane and the break in the
levy. Sometimes I would take care of their babies while they took a break to use the rest room or walk outside
for a little bit. I helped arrange for a male volunteer to help an elderly man take a shower because his daughter
couldn’t do it. Many of the residents did get to know me and started to smile or say ‘good morning’ back.”
Hatfield described her typical day in the shelter as non-stop from 6:00 a.m. to about Midnight, with coordination
of meals and activities to keep the shelter’s residents occupied. School busses actually picked up school-age children
for classes and the local YMCA offered weightlifting, running, and organized basketball for adults.
“When the children hadn’t been able to go to school, we would have activities for them by specific age groups with
a volunteer coordinating these events,” Hatfield said. “FEMA checks were delivered at noon with armed military
personnel standing right next to us as we handed them out.”
Hatfield also handled media requests and access for major outlets covering stories at the shelter, including CNN,
the Associated Press, the Washington Post, Dallas Morning-News, and international outlets from Japan and Finland.
She even arranged for a pair of weddings to take place in the shelter.
“My experience is one that will last my lifetime,” Hatfield said. I couldn’t sign up for the war but from the Vietnam
Vets I worked with, they equate the devastation, pressures, and human emotions as that of wartime. I feel so humbled
and truly blessed that I made an inkling of a difference to the people I came in contact with.”
Most of the evacuees have since found permanent shelter, been placed in a hotel, or been reconnected with relatives.
But many have relocated to other parts of the country, including here in Union County. The local chapter of the
Red Cross reports that it has assisted eight families who have settled here or passed through on their way elsewhere.
Like the training that Hatfield received, the money to assist those families, as well as the other services the
local chapter provides, comes from the annual United Way campaign, which continues through November.
“People may not know that their donation to the United Way also funds many local classes that the Red Cross hosts,”
Hatfield said. “Without certain monies targeted for that, it would be costly to the person wanting to take those
classes. Times are hard and money doesn’t grow on trees but maybe for the strength of the local services, people
could find it in their hearts to help continue to support the United Way and the Red Cross so if and when another
disaster hits here, we will be able to deploy all of the necessary personnel immediately because of the training
they received from the monies given.”
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FAST FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS UNION
COUNTY CHAPTER:
- 2005 United Way allocation was $106,930 (more than any other Member Agency) or
62% of its budget.
- Safety training courses include First Aid, CPR, water safety and lifeguard, babysitting,
and sports safety. These courses are taken by local emergency response personnel, local lifeguards, child care
providers, local Latchkey personnel, sports trainers, officials, and other Union County residents.
- Provided assistance last year to 64 individuals after their homes suffered damage
from tornado, flooding, fire, or other disasters.
- Conducted 79 bloodmobiles throughout Union County last year with 4,639 donors producing
4,143 productive units of blood.
- Each blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.
- Assisted 34 military families last year.
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