On Wednesday, February 29th I received a call from National American Red Cross,
“We need you to go to Harrisburg, IL, a tornado tore through the town and we need immediate help. Can you go?”
It is the call that I love and I hate. I am so honored to part of the National Public Affairs Team where I get to tell the story of how the Red Cross is helping those in dire need after a disaster but it usually means lots of devastation and heartache.
The EF4 tornado hit the small town of Harrisburg and devastated two residential areas and one commercial area. I arrived during the wee hours of the morning so didn’t see much of the damage until the next morning. As I headed through town to an early morning interview, I turned my car into one of the worst hit areas. My heart sank. I felt tears burning my eyes and a lump forming in my throat. I shook it off and tried not to think about the crib laying in the front yard, the cars turned on their sides, the foundations that used to be someone’s home and the fact that people had lost their lives on that block.
During the interview, I was able to talk about what I know best – the work of the Red Cross. We had set up a shelter for the people that had severe damage or had lost their homes completely. We were providing 3 meals a day plus snacks and water to shelter residents, those without electricity and those that just needed a reprieve from the clean-up. Our disaster mental health workers were talking to people as they came in – some disheveled, many with a look of disbelief as they were seeing their homes for the first time that day. In the shelter, I was able to see firsthand the importance of providing a safe place for people to gather. Children were playing in the community area, families were gathering to figure out next steps, neighbors were meeting to check on each other, and others slept on cots – exhausted from the day.
Throughout the day, I spoke with many residents of Harrisburg and learned that it is a caring community where neighbors care about neighbors. They were rallying together to begin the clean-up process, hammering tarps into place, raking debris from yards, and hugging each other with compassion and sincerity. As Disaster Assessment volunteers began surveying the damage, people were placing piles of debris on the curbs. As we walked by, I saw family photos, toys, dishes, heirlooms, shoes, and many other tattered belongings. The insulation from some of the homes clung to the trees, grass, overhead wires, seemingly everything.
As I looked out over a hill that used to be filled with homes and families, I thought about how glad I am to be helping in some small way. I can provide comfort in a time of need. I can provide a shoulder to cry on and a compassionate ear to listen. I can meet the immediate needs of this community. I am the heart and the hands of financial donors of the American Red Cross.
Thank you for your support,
Tammie Pech
American Red Cross – Iowa Region
You can help people affected by disasters like the Midwest tornadoes and storms, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.