By Michael Bradley, Regional DAT Manager

Every Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer has a reason they keep showing up.

For Gene Maxey, it started with retirement—and the realization that slowing down was not going to come naturally.

For years, Gene had worked as a steamfitter, construction manager, and supervisor, often putting in 12- to 14-hour days.

“I wasn’t used to retirement,” Gene says.

So he went looking for a way to stay active, stay involved, and do something meaningful with his time.

About eight years ago, he found the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team.

Starting Close to Home

Gene originally joined DAT in Montgomery County, where he lived. At the time, calls might come only once every couple of weeks.

Gene enjoyed the work, but soon realized he wanted to be more involved.

“I had an interest in increasing the frequency of my responses and being available more,” he says.

That interest eventually brought him to Philadelphia.

Gene became the Philadelphia DAT Coordinator, helping organize teams responding to multiple incidents in a single day.

“Some days you’d never make it home,” he remembers.

Soon afterward, Gene also became a Duty Officer, taking emergency calls, forming teams, and helping make sure trained volunteers were ready to respond.

What began as a way to stay busy after retirement became something much larger.

Seeing What the Red Cross Can Do

After years of responding, some experiences stand out.

For Gene, one involved a large fatal fire. The response required more than a typical DAT team.

The Red Cross brought Disaster Health Services, Disaster Mental Health, Spiritual Care, and other resources together to support the people affected.

“The ability for the American Red Cross to scale up and provide resources and help those people that were affected was really amazing,” Gene says.

That scalability remains one of the things he values most about the organization.

On an ordinary day, DAT volunteers may be helping one family after a fire or flood.

During a larger disaster, those same volunteers are connected to an organization capable of opening shelters, feeding large groups, distributing supplies, and helping communities begin recovering.

“You’re joining an organization from the ground up,” Gene says, “and then through education and experience, you’re able to perform for the people that expect us to perform.”

When a Community Comes Together

Gene has also seen firsthand that disaster response is rarely the work of only one organization.

He remembers responding to a fire in Philadelphia’s Bridesburg neighborhood involving a large family with several children.

As Red Cross volunteers worked to help the family, the neighborhood began showing up too.

The American Legion opened its doors. Neighbors brought blankets and clothes. Food arrived. Community members asked the Red Cross team what they could do to help.

“I think the Red Cross is the beacon that drives people to it,” Gene says.

For Gene, moments like that demonstrate what can happen when people recognize that someone in their community needs help.

No Experience? That’s Okay.

Gene understands why disaster response might sound intimidating to a prospective volunteer.

You may have never stood outside a burned home.

You may have never spoken with someone who was suddenly displaced.

You may have no idea what happens when the phone rings with your first response.

Gene’s message is simple: You will be trained.

“We’re going to train you,” he says. “We’re going to give you all the tools to get people out of harm’s way.”

At its core, Gene describes the work with one word: humanitarian.

“We’re a humanitarian organization,” he says. “If a human is affected by something, the American Red Cross is there to get you out of harm’s way.”

Volunteers receive the training, tools, and support they need to learn.

The work is not always convenient. Calls happen in the cold. They happen in the rain. They happen in the middle of the night.

But Gene believes perspective matters.

The volunteer may leave a warm home for a few hours. The family they are responding to may have just lost theirs.

“You going out in the rain and snow in the middle of the night is a blessing,” he says.

You Give, But You Receive Too

After eight years, Gene believes volunteering has taught him just as much as he has given.

DAT volunteers meet families from different backgrounds and circumstances. They see real-life challenges up close. Those experiences build perspective.

“You’re not just giving,” Gene says. “You’re receiving too.”

Asked what DAT has taught him, Gene’s answer is straightforward.

“Compassion for those that have been affected. Willingness to help others when people need help.”

Gene began volunteering because he wanted to stay involved after retirement.

Eight years later, he continues showing up because there are still people who need someone to show up for them.

You do not have to arrive knowing how to respond to a disaster. You can arrive willing to learn. The Red Cross can help teach you the rest.

Learn more about volunteering with the American Red Cross and discover where your skills, experience, and compassion can make a difference.