Last night I had my first two disaster response calls as a member of the San Francisco Disaster Action Team. Surprisingly, I had two calls in one night after two months on the team with no calls at all. At 6:30 p.m. I helped finish up the paper work for a “cold fire” that happened the night before. There was no immediate danger or damage assessment; the client’s insurance simply didn’t come through so we provided the family with a place to stay.
My second response at 9:30 p.m. was much more spectacular: a three-alarm fire. Several fire engines responded, so city officials blocked off the streets leading to the affected apartment buildings. I started my night at the Salvation Army, where one family came to stay warm. I was immediately sent out to find formula for their 6-week old infant, and I actually managed to find the right brand at a 24-hour Safeway nearby. Soon we moved from the Salvation Army up to “the beast,” the Bay Area Chapter’s mobile communications vehicle. I met with several other DAT members, passed out water and snacks, and then began to interview clients and process paperwork. My fellow volunteers called hotels and a taxi cab company while I activated a number of Client Assistance Cards to provide food and shelter for the next few days. The beast was a whirlwind of activity for the next few hours and we all worked together in fast harmony.
After assisting my third and final family, I checked over my paperwork with the team lead. I had missed a few things, but I did well for one of my first responses. I am still getting the hang of the way disaster response works in San Francisco (compared to Washington, DC, where I started my volunteer career in Disaster Services), and I can’t wait to go out again. The clients we assisted last night may have been homeless if it were not for the generosity of the American people who give to the Red Cross to provide disaster relief in such situations. I feel privileged to work for such a worthwhile organization!
Sandy Tesch, California
Filed under: Disaster
