Red Cross Volunteers Reflect On Lessons Learned From Hurricane Katrina
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Hundreds of evacuees from New Orleans landed in Sacramento after Hurricane Katrina.
The American Red Cross was one of many agencies helping people get back on their feet. A decade later, volunteers are reflecting on the role they played in the recovery process.
"Now we are ready. We are ready with sheltering in locations not be affected by hurricanes," said Lilly Wyatt, communications director for the American Red Cross.
Ready, after a tough lesson learned 10 years ago when Hurricane Katrina's destructive path left thousands of people homeless.
Now, the Sacramento chapter of the American Red Cross says it's better primed and prepped to send resources anywhere at a moment's notice.
"With ERV's – which are emergency response vehicles to go to places to provide food [and] clothing – we actually give them cash so they can get on their feet faster," Wyatt said.
Hundreds of volunteers helped the more than 500 Katrina evacuees re-locate to the Sacramento region.
Rita Grady was one of the volunteers.
"I think you can put yourself in the other person's shoes and you go along day to day thinking you have problems," Grady said. "You do not have problems until you lose everything."
While the retired nurse focused on getting people the medications they needed, Kathy Hunn was sent to Gulfport, Mississippi as a case worker. The most emotional moments came, she says, when people realized that those they typically turned to for an emergency were suffering the same loss and devastation.
"You think you're just going to call your insurance agent and they're going to help you, but your insurance agent's home is gone, your pastor's home is gone, your local grocery store is gone," Hunn said.
While the Sacramento chapter was able to provide 1 million meals to New Orleans in the wake of the storm, officials say Katrina will forever leave a mark on their organization.
"We actually haven't had a response on that scale – even Hurricane Sandy doesn't compare," Wyatt said.
Red Cross volunteers say they are routinely updating their training so they can be as prepared as possible to respond to any natural disaster.