My Experiences in the Deep End of the Pool

A personal account of volunteering with the American Red Cross during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

By Michelle Tanner, Brooks & Associates Public Relations, Inc.

Deciding to volunteer to help after Hurricane Katrina was an easy decision.  It was something I wanted to do, but I did not know how to volunteer and what would be the best way for me to help. 

Then, Virginia sent me an email from John Hoffman, Public Affairs volunteer for the Red Cross, subject: “The American Red Cross Needs Your Help.” He needed PR professionals in Dallas and Fort Worth to help with media relations at the four area shelters and writers to help with collateral. Under normal circumstances, this is handled by two full-time professionals and John, but there was nothing normal about Hurricane Katrina.

I responded to offer any assistance I could provide. I drove to Fort Worth for the training session, and two hours later I was driving to the Dallas Red Cross offices for a press conference. I introduced myself to Anita Foster, the Dallas and Forth Worth Chapters spokesperson, and said I was here to help with the press conference.  “Great!” she said.  “Channel 11 is on the phone, here you go.”  And then she walked off to begin the press conference.

That’s how I started my volunteer time with the Red Cross -- it was like being thrown in the deep end of the swimming pool.  I knew how to handle the situation; I just needed a moment to get my bearings. Each week, I have volunteered for a six-hour shift at the Dallas Shelter (Reunion Arena).  The experience has been rewarding beyond my expectations.

I realized that my volunteer time was serving two purposes: it was letting a more experienced Red Cross volunteer do logistics work such as setting up the shelter and I was assisting in the dissemination of accurate facts to the evacuees and the general public.

The evacuees heavily relied upon the media for information on how to get assistance, to make decisions about how long they would stay in the area, how to find missing loved ones and more.  In addition to receiving information, many shelter residents wanted to express how appreciative they are of all the assistance they have received from the Metroplex’s residents, businesses and other organizations.

This is not the type of work I normally do.  My expertise lies in assisting hi-tech and professional services companies promote themselves.  It can be cold and impersonal at times -- not working with human emotions, but focusing on business profits, product features and positioning.  This experience has shown me that PR professionals can play a vital role in the aftermath of a disaster, the general public does appreciate what we do, and the local and national media are incredibly professional yet compassionate.

I plan to continue to volunteer with the Red Cross after the shelters close.  The Red Cross has a formal training program for their public information volunteers and Anita has said she will schedule the classes later this Fall. For more information on how you can help, call your local Red Cross chapter, they will appreciate your help.