“I’ve been a Red Cross volunteer since 1993, and have helped this community cope with several major floods. Preparing for and responding to this flood is the most emotionally intense activity I’ve experienced. The crest is projected to be higher than any flood in the history of this city. So, people are understandably anxious and fearful about it’s impact.
Yet, the resilience of the community, the vast outpouring of support for the flood-fighting effort, and the knowledge that we’ve faced difficult floods successfully in the past, contribute to an overall feeling of hopefulness and strength.
As mental health volunteers, we’re encouraging people to stay calm and focused, and to stay connected to friends and neighbors as we face this flood together. Although we can’t control the weather or where the water goes, we can control how we respond to the flood threat.”
