This story is written by Red Cross volunteer Eilene Guy
American Red Cross volunteer shelter manager Brenda Pender knows that one of the most important things the Red Cross can do for a disaster victim like Maria Pennell is to share a compassionate ear and a big hug.
“We checked out of the shelter last night, but we had to come back,” Maria Pennell said Sunday, tears streaming down her cheeks as she hugged shelter manager Brenda Pender. “There’s a tree on our house. We can’t get in at all. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
As Hurricane Irene took aim at North Carolina Friday, Pennell brought her six children — ranging in age from six to 16 — to the American Red Cross shelter at Raleigh Road Baptist Church in Wilson, N.C., east of Raleigh. Her brother, Orlando Romero, convinced her it was better to be safe than sorry.
Sunday morning, Orlando reflected on the dramatic turn in his family’s situation Saturday. “We were so happy to be back home,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised to see the tree down, but I didn’t realize what it had done.”
“I expected to be helping my neighbors clean up and then I saw the tree was on the house. The roof is completely collapsed. Everything inside is soaking wet. They won’t let us get anything out — they say it’s not safe. I can’t even get into my bedroom. I can’t get my husband’s picture,” Maria said, her voice catching.
“You always think something like this happens to someone else, not to you,” said Orlando, who volunteered with the Red Cross to help disaster victims after Hurricane Isabel struck North Carolina in 2003. “It’s hard to believe that in just a minute you don’t have a place to stay. We had to turn around and come back to the shelter. We’re so grateful to the Red Cross and the church for this.”
Regional shelter supervisor Carlos Soto assured Maria that the Red Cross will have a place for the family until they can locate more long-term accommodations. In the meantime, they will have shelter, food and emotional support from a compassionate Red Cross staff. “I want to thank you for everything,” Orlando told Brenda. “You never know how fast you can go from a volunteer to a victim.”
