Three local American Red Cross disaster volunteers have different stories to tell about going to Texas after Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc there earlier this summer. But, they do have one thing in common – all three would do it again.

Don Mason and Jerry Allen of Mexico, and Susan Risenhoover of Martinsburg, shared their experiences recently at the office of the Audrain-Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross in Mexico.

Mason, 67 and semiretired, joined the local chapter in 2005 after doing missionary work with victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was volunteering with the Southern Baptist  Disaster Relief organization when he got his first glimpse of what Red Cross is about.

"I was so moved by what I saw," Mason told The Ledger. "When I returned home with my church, I joined the local chapter and shortly afterwards got the training needed to drive emergency response vehicles for Red Cross."

Mason arrived in Houston on Sept. 25, some 13 days after Hurricane Ike roared through. He worked in "Kitchen No. 22," and had the opportunity to drive and ride in an emergency response vehicle – commonly called an ERV – that delivered food daily to residents that were waiting to have their electricity restored.

The devastations, he said, changed daily.

"You could drive for hours and not see any damage to speak of, then run into areas that had been totally destroyed," said Mason. The conditions he saw in one particular neighborhood, "hit home."

"It was an apartment complex with a string of carports and people living in them," he recalled. "Their dwellings were damaged so badly that they were living in carports and tents just to be close to their homes."

That vision, Mason said, made him realize "just how quickly life can change."

Risenhoover had never volunteered for anything, other than at a local animal shelter. Her decision to join Red Cross came during a news broadcast on Hurricane Katrina – which struck New Orleans in August 2005, claiming more than 1,700 lives, and leaving an entire city in stagnant conditions.

"I remember saying to myself 'Oh I should have done something,' but I didn't and I felt bad," Risenhoover said. So, when Ike struck she reacted.

Risenhoover joined the Audrain Chapter on Sept. 17, and within 20 days was en route to Galveston, trained and ready to work.

"I wasn't sure what I was going to see, but I was anxious to get there," she told The Ledger. Upon her landing on Oct. 7, she was immediately taken to a FEMA camp, where she was instantly put to work, riding with ERV crews that delivered water, hot meals and snacks twice daily. And, what she saw was shocking.

Some areas in Galveston were inundated by as much as 12 feet of storm-churned water, and at least 14,000 area utility customers still remained without electricity a month after Ike hit, she said.
On average, Risenhoover worked 10-12 hours a day; seven days on, and one day off. Days around her camp began as early as 3 a.m.

"Once you got started you didn't have time to think about anything, but going out to face the people," Risenhoover said. "They always had smiles and were curious where we were from, and thanked us for coming."

But the closer time came for Red Cross crews to leave, Risenhoover said "panic" could be heard in the people's voices.

"They were afraid when we would have to leave, because most of them had no idea where their next meal was coming from," she said.

Risenhoover stayed in Galveston a total of 10 days. She said the faces of those she encountered are as vivid today as they were then, and likely will be a part of her life forever. The hardest part of leaving, she said, was "feeling like there was more I could have done."

"I still have a lot of emotions in me," Risenhoover said. Aside from visiting relatives, the at-home eBay seller said she had not really traveled much out of state. Were it not for a sudden illness, she would have gladly fulfilled her six-week commitment.

"I regret that I got sick and had to leave early, because I met a lot of really nice people from all over the United States," Risenhoover said.

Allen had an edge on both Risenhoover and Mason. For many years, he lived in Miami and had survived his fair share of hurricanes.

The Mexico native joined Red Cross this year after attending a Twilight Festival and visiting with Linda Ahmann, who does fundraising activities for the chapter. Allen and Risenhoover are the chapter's newest members.

"I jumped to be on the list," Allen said, noting that he has a mental health service and education background that he felt could be useful to both the hurricane survivors and volunteer relief teams.

"They needed people with community relations experience to help the people who were traumatized," Allen said. But, when he arrived in Galveston, he saw the biggest need was shelter help and food services.

Residents' mental well-being was part of his responsibility, but Allen's primary job was to assist with delivering and serving meals directly to the neighborhoods. When asked to summarize a volunteer's role during a disaster cleanup, he said, "Only the strong survive."

"Who you were when you arrived is different from who you are when you leave," he noted. "You quickly realize that the things you take for granted have suddenly been taken away from people. And, at times you feel a sense of helplessness.

"It's their loss, but you get a sense of loss as well, because melancholy is everywhere. It's a waiting game, and normalcy is what the victims are waiting for."

Allen stayed in Galveston 17 days, and assisted in the preparation and delivery of up to 1,000 meals daily. His venture allowed him to make friends from throughout the nation. As a memento, he started collecting service pins that disaster volunteers wear, depicting where their crews have already been.

"There's a big need for volunteers in this country, and more people need to get involved," he said. "This experience has definitely changed me and made me more aware of what people really need in a disaster."

The Audrain County Red Cross – established in 1917 – is one of 12 chapters left in Missouri. The organization currently has four teams of local volunteers.

Since 1998, the local branch has responded to 11 national disasters – including Ground Zero in New York, Hurricane Charley in Florida, Hurricane George in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, tornado relief in Seneca and Stockton, as well as Hurricane Ike.

In Texas, more than 182,000 residents sought temporary shelter during Hurricane Ike in as many as 280 shelters where American Red Cross volunteers served more than 8 million meals and snacks. Red Cross advocacy and referral teams still are working with community agencies to help those displaced get back on their feet and move forward in their recovery.

"When people need help they turn to the Red Cross," Jackie Heaston, Executive Director of emergency services said. "We're probably the smallest chapter out there, but we're here and ready to go."

Her volunteers share the same sentiment.

Mason was so moved by his experience that he convinced his wife, Vicki, to get involved. The two are qualified ERV drivers and belong to the area Disaster Action Team. Though they don't wish havoc on any region, both anxiously await the opportunity to be part of a disaster relief effort.

Risenhoover and Allen are hooked as well.

During her stay in Galveston, Risenhoover sported a shirt that read "I am my country's keeper" – something she believes even more today.

"People need people," she noted. One of the mementos she brought back with her was a small, rag doll, that was found amid some rubble. She named it "Ike" for all that it symbolizes.

"When I found it, its legs were all tangled and it looked like it needed to be saved; just like the thousands of people we served," she said.

Though Risenhoover will likely share her disdain of having to take showers in the back of 18-wheelers, and sleepless nights in cramped quarters, she admits her experience was an eye-opener, and she would "gladly do it again."

When asked if he would volunteer again, Allen said, without hesitation, "Absolutely." The 64-year-old said he would "love to become active year around," but unfortunately, "that's not fiscally possible."

The American Red Cross is launching a national fundraising campaign to raise an initial $100 million to help victims of recent disasters. The Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund is depleted from a record number of tornadoes this year, the worst flooding in the midwest in 15 years, an early wildfire season and an active hurricane season.

Anyone wishing to make a donation or become a volunteer can call the Audrain County Chapter at (573) 581-4273.