A team of 12 Red Cross volunteers from Birmingham has arrived on the Alabama Gulf Coast, joining more than 140 Red Cross volunteers staging in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias to help coastal residents get through the recovery.
The volunteers have spread out across the coast, moving emergency supplies to affected areas and supporting shelters that opened before the storm. One of them, Annette Rowland, is working in Orange Beach, where she said the support from people pitching in has been remarkable.
“For me, it really embodies the spirit of Birmingham because we see disasters happen in Birmingham often,” Rowland said. “We always see people who want to lend a helping hand, and it’s the same right now. Seeing people fly in from different parts of the country, people drove over from Mississippi and Florida to come and support their neighbors who may need their help, it really helps restore faith in humanity.”
Supplies on the move
Much of the volunteers’ work so far has been logistical. Red Cross teams have been moving resources on trailers to make sure people in affected communities have access to emergency supplies.
The Red Cross has a headquarters in Mobile with a warehouse of supplies that can be moved to wherever they are needed. Having that stockpile close to the coast, rather than hundreds of miles away, allows the organization to get supplies into neighborhoods soon after roads are cleared and conditions are safe.
In disaster operations, the Red Cross typically distributes items such as cleanup kits, comfort kits with basic hygiene supplies, water and other essentials to families dealing with storm damage or extended power outages.
Shelters before and after landfall
Before Isaias came ashore, Red Cross volunteers set up two pre-landfall shelters, giving people a safe place to ride out the storm. Those shelters can be converted into longer-term emergency shelters after the storm for people who cannot return home because of damage, flooding or a lack of power.
Shelters were opened across Mobile and Baldwin counties ahead of the hurricane. In Baldwin County, about 100 people had arrived by midday Friday, Oct. 9, at two shelters: the county-operated Baldwin County Coliseum at 19477 Fairground Road in Robertsdale and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 506 North Pine Street in Foley. Both accepted pets. A Red Cross representative put the Robertsdale building’s capacity at roughly 250 people, and backup shelters were ready to open if it filled.
In Mobile County, three hurricane shelters at Baker High School, Theodore High School and Collins-Rhodes Elementary School in Eight Mile had served approximately 50 people by Friday afternoon, according to county spokeswoman Sharee Broussard.
Isaias made landfall Friday evening near Destin, Fla., putting coastal Alabama on the storm’s stronger west side, with damaging wind, heavy rain, storm surge and widespread power outages across Mobile and Baldwin counties.
A wave of help from across the region
The Birmingham team is part of a broader response that has drawn volunteers from outside Alabama. Rowland said people flew in from other parts of the country and others drove in from Mississippi and Florida to help.
That kind of response is how the Red Cross typically handles major disasters. Volunteers from chapters around the country are trained in advance and deployed to wherever a large event strains local capacity. Many, like Rowland, bring experience from responding to tornadoes and other disasters closer to home. Central Alabama has seen its share of severe weather, and volunteers from the Birmingham area often deploy to help with storm recovery elsewhere.
Volunteers do much of the organization’s work during a disaster. Depending on their training, they may staff shelters, drive emergency response vehicles, serve meals, distribute supplies, provide health and mental health support, or help families with casework as they begin to recover.
How to help or get help
Red Cross officials said they typically see a surge in volunteer interest after a disaster strikes, and people who want to help are encouraged to contact the organization.
Ways to get involved generally include:
- Volunteering: People interested in volunteering can sign up through the American Red Cross website at redcross.org. New volunteers usually complete an application and training before being assigned to disaster work.
- Donating: Financial donations allow the Red Cross to buy what is needed close to where it is needed. Donations can be made online, by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS, or through the organization’s mobile app.
- Giving blood: Disasters can disrupt blood drives, and donors in unaffected areas can help keep the supply steady.
Residents affected by Isaias who need shelter, supplies or other assistance can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS. Local residents can also call 2-1-1 to be connected with community resources, and should follow Mobile County EMA, Baldwin County EMA and city government channels for updates on shelters, debris pickup and other services.
Safety during recovery
As residents begin cleaning up, emergency officials and the Red Cross generally advise people to stay away from downed power lines, avoid walking or driving through floodwater, run generators only outdoors and well away from windows and doors, and wear sturdy shoes and gloves while handling debris. People should also check on neighbors, especially older adults and anyone with medical needs who may be without power.
For volunteers like Rowland, the days ahead will be about making sure people on the coast have what they need while they recover from Isaias, and showing that help is close at hand.
