The Red Cross Prepares For What Could Come
By: Liz Gonzales
Updated: March 2, 2013
A tornado has struck Abilene and you're left with no where to go.
The Red Cross is working hard to make sure you're taken care of.
"We are practicing in case there is a major disaster of any kind. Be it a tornado, a flood," says Allen Brooks of the Red Cross.
If such a situation were to arise, the red cross would be amongst the first to jump into action.
"We would have to send out our assessment teams to determine how big the disaster was," says Brooks.
Today's drill allowed the volunteer's to get a little taste of what could become a reality.
"We don't want to be novices when we come out and do something on such a major scale like this. So by getting together as a group and forming teams, we know how to work with each other and know what our next step in the processes will be," says Chad Boykin, Red Cross volunteer.
The simulated affected areas were marked by pictures of homes that were affected by an actual tornado. The volunteers looked at these pictures and assessed them as though it was happening in real life.
"It tells us everything we need to know. It also helps us on a few of them, deciding whether they have electricity, whether they're going to be needing food, shelter- something to that effect," says Boykin.
His job directly affects how people in distress are taken care of.
It's that desire to make a difference that keeps him volunteering.
"Basically I'm doing it for the community. I believe it's important for us to step outside ourselves and come and help the people that are definitely going to be needing help," says Boykin.
Should disaster strike, a well-prepared team of volunteers will waiting.
