By Jennifer Graham, Executive Director, American Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Today, Tuesday October 4^th, my EOL (Elected Officials Liaison) partner and I Dan Wirth, Executive Director from South Puget Sound and Olympics,  wanted to ensure that a primarily Spanish speaking community of Guatemalans living on Marco Island received support. We had visited them on Sunday and knew their needs were great. While we were delivering these cleaning supplies, one of our Emergency Response Vehicles arrived with a meal of hot dogs, chips and fruit cups. Dan got to make the announcement over their loudspeaker in Spanish to ensure the community knew what was available. The kids came running!

Shortly after our Response Vehicle left, another Red Cross disaster truck arrived with more relief supplies, including our cleaning kits. Dan and I helped to get these supplies delivered to those who need it most throughout the area we are covering, when they need it most. Today truly made me proud to be a Red Crosser and I’m grateful to the many people who helped make this happen including the local Regional Executive, Executive Director, Response Operation Director and our fabulous volunteers and staff on the ground helping to provide comfort, hope and supplies to the community. See pictures below.  

Wednesday, Oct. 5

Yesterday I had the opportunity to chat for a while with a proud Floridian named Cindy. She lives right next to the bay in Naples. She’s ridden out storms previously and thought this one would be similar. That’s the story we heard from everyone on her street: made it through Harvey, Charlie, Irma and thought this one would be the same. She showed us a video as the storm surge started to quickly come up her front glass door — up the mid-point with water, with fish swimming all around. She survived through several feet of water before she escaped through her window and has since spent time with her family ripping out drywall, trying to track down items that floated away, and trying to find peace.  

All she wanted from us was a hug…and a beer. We gave her the hug. 

Cindy’s street is like many we have seen lined with memories and mementos soaking in water, covered in dirt and sand and muck, and stacked up to be taken away.

While we were talking to Cindy, neighbors came by to check on each other, and community members came by offering ice, food, water. It has been heartbreaking and heartwarming to see.  This will be a long journey.  

Thursday, Oct. 6

Today was hard.  Today was the day I broke down.  Truly broke down amazed at the resiliency and heart of a community that will never be the same. 

The below images are from a mobile park home in Naples, near the Gulf, but 100 yards from Henderson Creek.  When I went there today, a week after Ian passed, the water still had the dock submerged and there was still water within the mobile park; the roadway just passable.  The 250 or so homes have no power.  Almost all of the homes are uninhabitable.  The pic on the upper right is the mangled ruins of a home that happened to catch on fire during Ian.  In the lower right, an empty space is where another home used to be.  The ones left standing have buckling walls.  The water came up three to four feet.  All of the cars are no longer functioning.  

I met a couple in their ‘60s — Michael and Janine.  They’ve been in this park for 18 years, and now they need to find somewhere else to live. After they showed me around the park and their home, I asked what is it they need right now.  Michael said “a hot meal.”  Janine said “a shower and a hug.”  (I don’t know what it is about Floridians and their love of hugs).  I gave her the hug. 

The hot meal and meals, and support with health services, mental health, cleaning supplies, and muck out kits are on their way to their neighborhood hopefully providing comfort and hope at least for a few moments as they figure out what is next.  Our incredible teams of staff and volunteers are making it happen in these impacted communities every day.   As I drive through Collier County, I see Red Cross trucks up and down the highway and in the community.  It’s an impressive site.  And it’s the generosity of those that give that make these meals, and cleaning supplies, and health services possible to support a pathway to recovery possible. 

Above are some amazing volunteers from Wisconsin.  I’ve seen them every day for the past three days on the Isles of Capri. They start at the Fire House, then move to an apartment complex, then head over to what used to be the Marina Restaurant, and then head over to the church, which is the highest point on the island and the only location that didn’t suffer much water damage.  They do this twice a day – lunch and dinner.  And they are AMAZING!!! They go through all of their food every single shift.  

They bring a smile, conversation, and provide the residents of Isles an opportunity to relax for a few minutes.  Some of the residents just stop by to say hi as they’ve gotten to know Jim, Bob, and Allison.  It is hot outside and hot in that ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle), and they manage it all with a smile, humor, grace, and compassion. 

THIS IS the Red Cross Mission in Action.

Editor’s Note: Jennifer Graham is the Executive Director of the American Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. She was deployed to Florida on Saturday, Oct. 2 in the role of Elected Officials Liaison (EOL).