By Alana Mauger

When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross responds. And behind the scenes of every Red Cross operation is a small but mighty team of Red Cross logistics volunteers who help make it happen. For the past three years, volunteer Steve Thomas has led that team for the Southeastern Pennsylvania region.

Steve thrives on the self-described “chaos” that comes with disaster mobilization.

“First, we need to find out the requirements for the situation,” he explained. “For an evacuation center, we need general supplies, like snacks, water and comfort and clean-up kits. For a shelter, we need cots, blankets, pillows. Once we get the info, we figure out how to get the supplies where they need to be.”

Sometimes, they need to be in many places at once. At the start of the Ida response, the Red Cross had multiple shelters and evacuation centers open at once, all of which needed initial set up and constant replenishment of resources. Since Wednesday, Sept. 1, the Red Cross provided 168 overnight shelter stays, distributed 750 relief items, like clean-up and comfort kits, and served 1,300 meals, snacks and bottles of water. Those numbers will increase dramatically with Multi-Agency Resource Centers being held in Chester and Montgomery counties on Sept. 8 and 9.

But that moment’s-notice mobilization is only a fraction of the team’s work. Disaster logistics for the Red Cross includes eight components of supply processing: warehousing, in-kind donations, facilities, transportation, procurement, disaster technology and safety and asset protection. If that sounds like a lot of work, it is. Steve estimates that he volunteers an average of 20-30 hours per week (much more during major disaster response events like Ida). He’s quick to point out, however, that it’s not about him; logistics is a team effort.

To that end, he’s looking to recruit new volunteers to be part of his team and is committed to finding more engaging activities for existing volunteers. Part of that engagement is supporting the Mass Care team during disasters, like Ida, and like the flooding and tornado responses in Lower Bucks County this summer. In fact, in addition to procuring the extraordinary number of supplies needed to assist residents, Steve and members of his team can be found in the field most days working alongside responders from every other Red Cross disaster area.

“I wouldn’t ask others to do things I’m not willing to do. It’s how you lead people and how you learn every day,” he explained.

Once the Ida response comes to a close, the Logistics team will continue working on its current projects – conducting preventative maintenance (PM) inspections on all Red Cross disaster vehicles, which includes several Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) and supply trailers staged throughout each Southeastern Pennsylvania County. The team is also responsible for working with school districts across the region to ensure they are prepared for a Nov. 31 evacuation drill conducted by Exelon’s Limerick Nuclear Generating Station. 

Steve initially joined the Red Cross as a volunteer Disaster Action Team (DAT) responder. But it didn’t take long for everyone to see they had a talented, logistics-minded professional in their midst. He has an impressive 50-year career in all phases of maintenance and reliability management and is a recognized and published industry expert on organizational change.

When he’s not working for the Red Cross, Steve is an avid bike rider and dog foster parent. He’s also looking forward to the publication of his 13th book in the field of organizational management.

The Red Cross relies on generous and talented volunteers, like Steve, to carry out its mission every day. To learn more about volunteering, visit redcross.org/volunteer.