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Red Cross AFES Message Brings Soldier Home for Tornado Clean-Up
Written by Courtney Prebich, Special to RedCross.org
Jackson, Tennessee, May 15, 2003 —
When Pamela Loyd tied a yellow ribbon to a tree for her husband's safe return from the war in Iraq, she never imagined that U.S. Army SSgt. David Loyd would be better off coordinating missions in the Middle East than sleeping in the bedroom of their Tennessee home.
Pamela and David Loyd, with Cougar, stand in front of their Jackson, Tenn. home, which lost part of its roof in a tornado last week.
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A deadly tornado roared through Jackson, Tn., on the night of May 4, killing 11 people and causing extensive damage throughout the area, including the Loyd home where chunks of the roof caved into the bedroom.
"You could just hear it ripping the back of the roof off," said Pamela Loyd, who dove into the bathtub, praying as the storm raged.
"I was safer at the time over there [in the Middle East] than you were here [in Tennessee]," David Loyd later told his wife.
Deployed with the 1175th Transportation Company to Kuwait, David Loyd was able to return home to help his family in the aftermath of the killer storm because of the help of the American Red Cross.
When Pam Loyd stopped by the offices of Jackson Area Chapter of the Red Cross to donate proceeds from a recent car wash to Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES), she shared her experience. Soon, her family's plight became the subject of a Red Cross emergency message.
Since its founder Clara Barton began writing letters home on behalf of injured soldiers during the Civil War, the Red Cross has served as a vital communication link between military personnel and their families, relaying verified news of births, deaths, serious illnesses or, in this case, natural disasters.
"I couldn't get home without [the Red Cross]," David Loyd said. "Uncle Sam wasn't going to say, 'OK, you called her, there was a tornado, now go home.' They needed verification."
The emergency message process typically starts when a family notifies their local Red Cross chapter of an emergency. The Red Cross then confirms the information before relaying the message to the service member's commanding officer to determine if emergency leave should be granted.
Call the Red Cross Hotline
1-866-GET-INFO, for:
Shelter locations
Assistance Programs
Information on Affected Areas
Disaster Safety and Preparedness Information
Or call 1-800-HELP NOW to make a donation
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In the Loyd case, a Red Cross damage assessment team visited the Loyd house, confirming the extent of the damage. Pat Little of the Jackson Area Chapter then sent an emergency message to David Loyd's commanding officer.
"Most of the time, we only send notices of deaths, illnesses and births," said Little. "But this was a little different because we had a huge tornado come through."
Little also reported that the Loyd message was the first he had sent via cell phone while working outside underneath a tree. Even though the storm had knocked out the electricity at the Red Cross offices, Little was determined to get Pamela Loyd's message through.
Technology, such as cell phones and satellite communication, allows the Red Cross to send emergency messages quickly to soldiers like David Loyd, anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. Red Cross staff have been stationed in the Middle East since before the war with Iraq began, serving alongside the men and women they are there to support. They endure the same harsh conditions as the troops to ensure that emergency messages are delivered.
"I know I still have a responsibility back there," said David Loyd, who returns to Kuwait next week.
"But I love the part about being home."
The Loyds, whose 25th wedding anniversary passed while he was in the Middle East, say that despite the damage to their home, the situation could have been much worse. Piles of rubble remain where many homes in the area once stood. The couple plans to continue sifting through the debris, salvaging what belongings they can to put into storage until their home is repaired.
You can help the Red Cross continue to assist the Loyds and other victims of the recent tornado outbreak by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.
Current relief services are stretched and depleting the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is not a reserve; it is a working fund that needs continued replenishment when disaster strikes. As this tornado season continues and hurricane season approaches, one large storm could deplete the balance of the fund completely. A comfortable threshold for the fund is $56 million.
You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
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All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives.
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