Red Cross Deployment Update #1

[marathoner452]

First of all, I want to state that these are just my experiences and my observances. I welcome comments from those who experienced the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts differently, because I realize that what I saw and how I understood it is just one small piece of the puzzle. It is a piece of the puzzle and a part of the story that I need to tell and that the world needs to hear.

So all of you, especially those of you thinking that the people of New Orleans have progressed beyond needing relief six or seven months later or that rebuilding the city would be too expensive to consider, I invite you to listen to the story of one young disaster relief worker thrust into the heart of the devastation.

My name is Bethany Scherbarth, and I started working for the Frederick County (Maryland) Chapter of the American Red Cross on Monday, August 29th, 2005. I started working as an AmeriCorps VISTA the day Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. I didn’t get to deploy for six months, but that’s not the point of this story. Eventually I got down there, and that is where this story starts.

Tuesday, February 28th-Mardi Gras
Wednesday, March 1st, 2:30 pm-called up to go to New Orleans
Thursday, March 2nd, 5:00 pm-arrive in Baton Rouge
Friday, March 3rd, 2;30 pm-arrive at hotel in New Orleans
Saturday, March 4th, 8:30 am-start work with a meeting over at the ERV (emergency response vehicle) lot
Saturday, March 4th, 11:30 am-see the devastation in the Lower 9th Ward firsthand

(taken from my journal, 4:54 that afternoon)

Written while sitting next to the serving window in ERV 2146, assigned to the Ninth Ward. This certainly is sobering, and it must be terribly wrong for the poorest part of New Orleans to still look this torn up, while downtown looks practically back to normal (not that I know what that looked like, but at least there aren’t buildings falling down everywhere and huge piles of debris and overturned flooded out cars). Most of these houses are so far gone they don’t even need blue tarps. Some of them don’t even look like houses. I know these people don’t have a choice, but I don’t know how anyone can live in these houses…Coleen said in that email that once I got down here I wasn’t coming back, metaphorically anyway. She was right. I’m sure I’ve got that “Katrina look.”

~~~~~~

Fortunately, disaster relief workers bond like glue and instantly. The night before, Joe and Christine had snagged me as their designated driver to get across the Mississippi to downtown New Orleans. I spent my first night in the French Quarter eating at the Gumbo Shop and walking down Bourbon Street just taking it all in. They briefed me on what I was about to experience. The “Katrina crud” from breathing in mold, some kind of crazy allergy that it takes some people months to recover from. The “Katrina look” that we all get after seeing the devastation firsthand for the first time. Thank goodness they were there after my first day, and thank goodness for all the rest of the Red Cross volunteers. Just as we take care of the good people of New Orleans, we take care of each other. We’ve kinda got that helping people out thing down pat.

I was supposed to run the B&A Trail ½ Marathon on Sunday, March 5th. Despite the fact that Chris was coming home from West Point with his roommate to run the race and Adam was flying out from Michigan to run it with me, some things are just more important than running personal records. Like helping people working hard to rebuild their city, for instance.

(taken from my journal, morning of Monday, March 6th)

But had I stayed home for the race, I probably wouldn’t be here, serving hot meals to people whose homes look like they just got hit by the hurricane last week. It’s amazing how kind and appreciative and friendly they are. They take care of each other. They aren’t picky and they don’t feel entitled to the food, they’re just happy for what they’ve got. I’m becoming a firm believer that it’s the ones with the least who are the most pleasant to be around. That’ll probably be the most difficult adjustment to make once I get home-listening to people complain about petty stuff that doesn’t matter, or listening to people who haven’t been down here talk about the recovery.

I'll be writing more later, as I have time and energy.  Coming back home from three weeks of disaster relief work is tougher than I imagined, but you know what, at the end of the day I have nothing to complain about because at least I have a home to come back to.  I will never again complain about petty things that don't matter.  The amazing people of New Orleans have given me inspiration in the way they are working to rebuild their city, and they have given me perspective about what really matters in life.

~Bethany

Comments

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

For that last sentence alone, I wish I could've been there, because sometimes we all need a perspective adjustment. I know I do.

Still standing

[redcrosshoney.livejournal.com]

"darlin" You are doing more than still standing. You are VICTORIOUS. You have returned home with the heart of a servant, WoW not many ever experience an unselfish heart! You Rock!