News
ENLARGE
When Douglas County resident John McDougal first learned of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, he took a train to San Antonio to help manage a shelter for displaced families.
It was the start of a new chapter in his life as a volunteer with the Red Cross, and he said he wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
"I'll never give up this work. It's invigorating," he said. "Everyone needs to volunteer. Instead of sitting back and saying what should be done, volunteers are doing it."
It took three days by train to arrive in San Antonio, where he worked in a huge Air Force hangar that housed about 6,000 displaced Katrina victims. As more came in, others would leave to start their lives again, Mc Dougal said.
"I lived in the shelter, so I was there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I was put in the zone and I became one of them," he said. "They stayed until they found housing or went home."
The hangar had adequate bath facilities and was air conditioned and despite the crowded circumstances, there were no problems, McDougal said.
"Everyone got along. It was unbelievable," he said.
He took the courses required by the Red Cross for their volunteers while on the job in San Antonio. Two months later he was deployed to New Orleans, where he supervised bulk distributions of everything from food and toiletries to cleaning supplies for those who chose to remain in New Orleans.
People were found sitting in their homes, now infused with mold and debris defined by the tell-tale water line at about the 8-foot level, McDougal said.
"At least one person stayed on almost every block. There were thousands," he said. "They didn't have food because the stores were gone. Everything we take for granted wasn't there."
A small business owner and truck driver by trade, McDougal, 51, said he was one of the older volunteers and as such, was put in charge. This is a job that primarily appeals to the younger set, as most were between 21 and 30 and they were inspirational.
"They have hearts of gold and they're so full of life and energy," he said. "They will work nonstop to do what needs to be done."
"Everyone got along. It was unbelievable," he said.
He took the courses required by the Red Cross for their volunteers while on the job in San Antonio. Two months later he was deployed to New Orleans, where he supervised bulk distributions of everything from food and toiletries to cleaning supplies for those who chose to remain in New Orleans.
People were found sitting in their homes, now infused with mold and debris defined by the tell-tale water line at about the 8-foot level, McDougal said.
"At least one person stayed on almost every block. There were thousands," he said. "They didn't have food because the stores were gone. Everything we take for granted wasn't there."
A small business owner and truck driver by trade, McDougal, 51, said he was one of the older volunteers and as such, was put in charge. This is a job that primarily appeals to the younger set, as most were between 21 and 30 and they were inspirational.
"They have hearts of gold and they're so full of life and energy," he said. "They will work nonstop to do what needs to be done."
The Red Cross was on scene at the Katrina disaster before government officials came to help. For the evacuation, the government response was disappointing and reconstruction has been slow. Old neighborhoods like the Ninth Ward and Lakeland are completely gone and reversing the devastation will take years, McDougal said.
"People are starting to come back, but not as fast as we'd like. For many, there's no place to go back to and they don't want to be living in a FEMA trailer if another hurricane hits," he said. "But there's no sense in blaming anyone. Let's get it fixed so people will come back."
Since his first assignments, McDougal has served around the country with the Red Cross, including a small town outside Harrisburg, Pa., where it was thought a dike would break and at the Yucca fire in Southern California, where he provided food for firefighters and others who were displaced.
He is in the process of moving his water trucking business to Mississippi and hopes to continue his work in New Orleans, helping to renovate old neighborhoods.
Red Cross volunteers are typically assigned to a task for 10 to 21 days, but often they can renew their commitment time in a given area indefinitely, or until they are no longer needed. Volunteers are housed in churches or hotels if available, McDougal said.
"People are starting to come back, but not as fast as we'd like. For many, there's no place to go back to and they don't want to be living in a FEMA trailer if another hurricane hits," he said. "But there's no sense in blaming anyone. Let's get it fixed so people will come back."
Since his first assignments, McDougal has served around the country with the Red Cross, including a small town outside Harrisburg, Pa., where it was thought a dike would break and at the Yucca fire in Southern California, where he provided food for firefighters and others who were displaced.
He is in the process of moving his water trucking business to Mississippi and hopes to continue his work in New Orleans, helping to renovate old neighborhoods.
Red Cross volunteers are typically assigned to a task for 10 to 21 days, but often they can renew their commitment time in a given area indefinitely, or until they are no longer needed. Volunteers are housed in churches or hotels if available, McDougal said.
Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.
BREAKOUT
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at the Red Cross to support all of the organization's services. People who wish to volunteer should contact their local American Red Cross chapter because many volunteer opportunities are typically found locally.
International disaster relief workers are drawn from a pool of paid and volunteer staff with extensive prior experience.
For more information, call the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter in Reno at 856-1000 or email them at info@nevada.redcross.org. Information on local volunteer needs can be accessed on their Web site at http://www.nevada.redcross.org.
BREAKOUT
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at the Red Cross to support all of the organization's services. People who wish to volunteer should contact their local American Red Cross chapter because many volunteer opportunities are typically found locally.
International disaster relief workers are drawn from a pool of paid and volunteer staff with extensive prior experience.
For more information, call the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter in Reno at 856-1000 or email them at info@nevada.redcross.org. Information on local volunteer needs can be accessed on their Web site at http://www.nevada.redcross.org.
