Are you all DAT?

While Jeanmarie, Disaster Action Team (DAT) member extraordinaire, and I were out distributing preparedness brochures to the community, we happened upon several fire trucks at an apartment complex in Key West.

We stopped and offered Red Cross assistance, but a firefighter reported it was a minor fire. We weren’t back in the office but 5 minutes when the complex manager called and asked us to come back because of water damage in several apartments.

On-site damage assessment revealed little physical damage, but the emotional toll was evident. One resident, a woman who is 9 months pregnant, was taken to the hospital. Everyone was very grateful to see the Red Cross would be there for them, if the damage was worse.

Do you want to be all DAT, like Jeanmarie? Join today by CLICKING HERE, and saying I want to be there for those in need!  I want to be all DAT! 

Shannon Renee Vasko
Volunteer & Response Coordinator
American Red Cross of Greater Miami & the Keys

An open letter to Tropical Storm Bonnie

Oh, Bonnie. What happened? You came and you went. Honestly we expected you to stick around for a while and do what you do best. Blow some hot air, flood our streets, create some havoc. But, girl, you fizzled out!

Regardless, thank you so much for stopping by. My lawn appreciated the rain. But I have to tell you that I’m glad things didn’t work out the way you wanted. Nevertheless we were ready. I don’t know if you know, Bonnie, but we had hundreds of Red Cross volunteers on standby, our partners were ready to go and shelters were prepared to open if needed.

Even though you didn’t pack much punch, I hope the community took the opportunity to get their disaster kits together and go over their family plans.

So the next time you or one of your friends decides to pay a visit to South Florida, just know that we’ll be waiting.