American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

This story is written by Red Cross worker Louis P. Palm

Bruce Johnson updating his losses at an American Red Cross shelter in Live Oak, Florida.

Bruce Johnson is a young retired 77 year old who was caught in one of life’s surprises.

In late June 2012 Bruce was traveling north from Pine Island, Florida to visit family in Georgia. Along the way he camped at various scenic sites. One of those was the banks of the Suwannee River in the vicinity of White Lake, Florida.

On the evening of June 25th Bruce settled in for a third night of rain from Tropical Storm Debby. It was this evening the tent started leaking and Bruce retreated to his vehicle for shelter and a night’s sleep. As he settled in he noticed the river was 15 feet below his camp site. During the evening, Debby drastically changed the situation.

Bruce woke to find water lapping at the door of his Jeep. Deciding he should get out of the area he soon found driving out was not an option. He called the local law enforcement to let them know his location and grabbing his computer and cell phone, Bruce headed for dry land. Soon the water was up to his chest and instead of walking out, the seventy-seven year old was forced to swim to safety.

As the police arrived Bruce climbed an embankment and escaped the flooding Suwannee. Following treatment by emergency medical personal and a short visit to the local emergency room Bruce was taken to the American Red Cross shelter located next to the hospital. With the exception of medications and the remains of his computer and cell phone, Bruce lost everything.

On Monday July 2nd, Bruce was able to renew his driver’s license and start making arrangements for his immediate future. During his stay at the shelter Bruce witnessed the growth of the operation from limited staff members serving many clients to a well run comfortable environment where the residents are safe and receiving their immediate needs of shelter and feeding.

This story is written by Red Cross volunteer Vicki Eichstaedt.

Juanita Plummer, Joyce Riley, and LaWanda Jones stayed in the Suannee Coliseum Complex Shelter in Live Oak, FL. Their homes were flooded by Tropical Storm Debby.

Pulling up a chair at the long table, Juanita Plummer sat down and bowed her head, saying a few words of thanks before opening the hot lunch provided by American Red Cross disaster partner, The Salvation Army. Joyce Riley and Lawanda Jones soon joined Juanita and me, as I asked to join them.

All three ladies were evacuated from the rising waters that engulfed their homes in Live Oak after TS Debby dumped record amounts of rain across Florida in her wake. Juanita remarked, “I have just never seen anything like it, it was so much, so fast, and I was really scared. I was never so glad to see the beautiful fire truck that rescued me, I would just love to have my name inscribed on that fire truck because I will always remember it!”

Lawanda and her grandkids were evacuated by airboat from their flooded home. “I knew we weren’t going to get out on our own,” Lawanda said. “It was hard to imagine how anything could get to us. Just then, I heard an incredible noise and I thought it was a plane – but it was an airboat! Oh my, I just couldn’t believe it, but my grandkids loved it!”

Joyce was the most stoic of the group, because of a childhood memory. When Joyce was 9 or 10 years old Hurricane Dora forced Joyce’s family, including 9 bothers and sisters, to flee their home by boat(s). “They needed two boats to get us all out,” she recalled with a wry smile, “and we were all very frightened.” The terrible memories came back in a rush as Joyce pounded on neighbor’s doors to alert them to the danger from the rising water.

“You never know what life has in store for you from day to day, but I knew one thing,” Joyce said with conviction, “The Red Cross was there when I was a child, and I knew they would be again. God has angels here on earth, and the people from the Red Cross are proof.”

These lovely ladies all noted their “luck” and their thankfulness to still be alive. “If we have to start over again, we will start over again.” Lawanda noted, “We are here, we are safe, we have our families and each other.”

Soon our lunch conversation turned to more pleasant memories, shared life experiences, stories of our children and bad hair days! I haven’t laughed that much in weeks. I left them all with hugs, they thanked me and the Red Cross, I thanked them for reminding me why I am proud to be a Red Cross volunteer.