Emergency responder enjoys helping Red Cross
PROSPECT — Sometimes Bob Walters goes out to a fire in a fire truck and helps extinguish flames consuming someone’s home, and other times he responds to the aftermath of a hurricane in his own car to help a person or family struck by tragedy.
Although he retired from his job in law enforcement in Virginia about six years ago, Walters didn’t stay away from emergencies for long. He started volunteering with the American Red Cross’ Disaster Action Team, a gig he kept even after moving to Prospect about two years ago, where he is also a member of the borough’s volunteer fire department.
Through this role, Walters has traveled to disaster scenes in places as close as Butler and as far away as Albany, Ga., to help the people struck by anything from utility shutdowns to hurricanes and floods.
“There was this one client we had who had a lot of medical issues. I helped him out quite a bit to get around the shelter, we went and checked on his house for him,” Walters said, telling a story about his trip to a hurricane scene in Georgia. “We just reassured him that everything is OK. It’s hard when you’re in a shelter, because you don’t get to see what happened to your area during a major disaster.”
Nicole Roschella, regional communications director for American Red Cross, said the agency takes calls for disaster assistance 24/7, and a network of employees and volunteers work together to help victims of disaster.
“Red Cross is 90% volunteer-run. You're going to get involved with great people helping others,” Roschella said. “The Disaster Action Team, they are there to provide comfort and care for the person.”
According to Roschella, people can sign up to be responders, but the Red Cross also has volunteer administrative positions, including in dispatch. She said the Red Cross disaster assistance hotline often gets calls from emergency responders while an emergency is still going on, which is how the agency is able to provide aid so quickly.
“Fires happen at night or in the early morning hours, so we have someone on call to be that dispatcher,” Roschella said. “It will a lot of times come from the fire chief, we are able to verify it that way.”
Once Red Cross volunteers make it to a scene, their duties could include giving victims supplies, finding them a place to stay, giving toys to children or even just comforting a person.
Walters said he wanted to get involved on the response side of the Red Cross’ volunteer opportunities, because he gets to be a positive presence for someone experiencing disaster. He is on the initial response team, and there are other positions where volunteers follow up with victims.
“You console the people and talk to them, it’s an emotional time,” Walters said. “A lot of people when the Red Cross shows up, it’s a little pressure off them; they know someone is there to help them.”
Volunteers for the Red Cross get to pick their hours, Walters said, so he responds to emergencies a few times a month. He said his response area includes Butler, Beaver and Lawrence counties, and he recently went to a house fire in New Castle, where someone lost their life.
While meeting with people in what could be their worst moments is difficult, Walters said it is often rewarding.
“It’s fulfillment to go out and help people in their time of need,” Walters said. “We give them financial assistance, we give them blankets and personal hygiene items and stuff like that.”
Roschella said people who sign up as volunteers for the Red Cross undergo training before responding to disasters. Walters said he has met many people through his work with the Red Cross, because people with the Disaster Action Team go out in teams.
“They’re from all walks of life, the people who volunteer for Red Cross,” Walters said. “Some of them are nurses, some are teachers, some of them work other jobs, one guy worked at the rail yard in Beaver County.”
Roschella said people can choose the way they want to volunteer, and even though Walters has traveled across the country to respond to emergencies, many other volunteers stick to their particular region.
Walters said he has enjoyed his time volunteering with the Red Cross, because no matter where he goes, the people he meets are almost always happy to see him and the other Red Cross volunteers.
“I’ve been to a lot of areas I have never been to and would have never thought to go to,” Walters said. “They are always appreciative that you come out there.”
To volunteer for the Red Cross, visit Redcross.org/volunteer, or to report an emergency to its dispatchers, call 1-800-733-2767.
