Red Crosser Laureen Martinez had the pleasure of meeting one of our volunteers today who has lived through his share of hurricanes. This is his story.
80-year-old Ted Smith says he’ll never be unprepared for a disaster again. He remembers the day a category 3 hurricane hit his unsuspecting community of Cape Cod. “I was 7-years-old and I was out playing. It hit at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. We had no warning. Zero,” he said.
The 1938 hurricane hit New England, Long Island, and New York. It destroyed hundreds of homes and lives. Smith says he vividly remembers standing outside in the storm, leaning forward with the strong winds holding him up. “At the time I didn’t appreciate the seriousness of the problem.”
Of course, the 35-year veteran American Red Cross volunteer now knows not to mess with Mother Nature. He has prepared his home for Irene and assembled a hurricane supply kit which includes water, food, a flashlight, batteries, a weather radio, and his medications. He plans to help his community recover after Irene and this time, he says, he won’t be standing in the wind.
For more information on how to prepare for Irene, hurricane season, or any other type of disaster go to www.redcross.org