Courtney Gray, a second year TCOM student
and Katrina Shelter Manager
I have worked with the Red Cross for over 2 ½ years. I am a Team
Leader for the local Disaster Action Team for the Dallas Area Chapter.
This covers 11 counties in the area. Beyond that, I am certified to respond
to national disaster (hurricanes, floods, etc). I have previously worked
during the response to Hurricane Claudette and the Dallas 2004 Trinity
River Floods. I also put together a fundraiser in our class to help with
the hurricane response last summer in Florida. My main certification
is in Mass Care - Mobile Feeding, but I am also certified in Damage Assessment
and Shelter Operations/Management.
Both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have generated an enormous response
to the American Red Cross. This is our largest disaster response in history.
Thus, all volunteers and paid employees have put their lives on hold in order
to dedicate spare time to helping all affected in these disasters.
Since day one of the Katrina response, I have acted as a Shelter Manager – mostly
for Reunion Arena, but sometimes for the Senter Park shelter in Irving. As
Shelter Manager, I am in charge of the entire shelter and the activities
inside, including all the evacuees and volunteers. This was and
remains a very daunting task, but it is so rewarding.
On the days that I volunteer, Reunion Arena sleeps between 300 and 900
people, feeds up to 1500 every meal, and at one point had over 9300 people
registered or services. Next door is the Dallas Convention Center.
Although I have not been in charge of anything there, I run back and
forth on a regular basis. The Convention Center numbers were as follows:
sleeping over 2000, feeding about 4000 every meal, and over 14,000 registered
for services during the height of Katrina.
This has been the most eye-opening experience. From the medical
perspective, I have seen and helped care for so many people who were
ill or who needed basic medical help; ranging from the basic ear infection
to a woman in the beginning stages of labor. With our mental health
services staff, we have also been caring for a multitude of people with
psychiatric issues.
However, the most important thing I have seen is the human spirit at its finest. I get to see the brilliant smile on a child’s face when I hand him a toy – the only toy he has now.
I’ve had the privilege to help people reconnect with their lost loved ones.
And the most astounding sight was people bringing us boxes and boxes of donated goods from their cars; most of which was probably a donation from their own pockets as they had just come from the store.
I have made several good friends with some of the residents at the shelters and am committed to following their progress as they move back into their lives. After spending so much time with these people, whether in person or on the phone, you form a bond. I know every Red Cross volunteer has had a similar experience.
I wish that more people could witness what I have seen. It truly makes you realize how lucky you are. Although the shelters will not be open forever, these people will need our help for a long time. Most of these people never imagined their lives would turn this direction. And in the blink of an eye, one of us could face a similar challenge.