Scenes from Hurricane Matthew

Daisy Bullock was very worried when she saw news of a nursing home that had been damaged during Hurricane Matthew, and was glad that she had evacuated her home.  She has been staying at a Red Cross shelter for 2 days now, and is anxious to get home to clean up her home, and empty the freezer.  She has been happy to have a place to stay, and keep warm and dry.

Gerald Hargrove left his home with only the clothes on his back, and was upset by the “mess that my home is” when he evacuated to come to the shelter.  He became friends with Ms. Yates when they met at the shelter, and the two have become companions in the face of adversity.

Sally Bumgardner came to the Red Cross shelter in Dillon, SC, because she wanted to help.  Ms. Bumgardner was at her parents’ home, where she grew up, when Hurricane Matthew hit the town of Dillon.  Just as the family thought the storm was over, and the winds had died down, the waters continued to rise, and covered the wheelchair ramps that Ms. Bumgardner relies upon to enter and exit the house.  After being confined to the house for 2 days, Ms. Bumgardner realized that her community was in need and came straight to the Red Cross shelter.  As she rolled into the shelter with a bright smile, she immediately asked the shelter staff if they needed ice, food or water, and offered whatever help she could provide.

The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents along the east coast of Florida, and many of those in coastal areas saw flooding from Hurricane Matthew’s storm surge, including 99-year-old Henry Lantelme of St. Augustine. Lantelme, a 30-year Navy veteran, lives alone in his Anastasia Island home, which was surrounded by several feet of water during the height of the storm. His home did not take on water, but his garage and car were both flooded. Red Cross workers Don and Ellen Foreman, of Panama City, Florida, spoke with Lantelme about storm damage and provided him with meals, water, snacks and a comfort kit. 

- St. Augustine, Florida. Photo credit: Peter Macias

James (Wildman) Neils of Harleysville, South Carolina, received meals from Red Cross Disaster Responder Barry Versel for himself and companion. The Red Cross emergency vehicle was parked in the ACE Hardware store in Harleysville, South Carolina to distribute meals to those in need due to Hurricane Matthew.

Photo Credit: Bob Wallace/American Red Cross

Sarah Newton was delighted to receive meals for her family from Red Cross Disaster Responder Barry Versel. The Red Cross emergency vehicle was parked in the ACE Hardware store in Harleysville, South Carolina to distribute meals to those in need due to Hurricane Matthew. 

Photo Credit: Bob Wallace/American Red Cross

American Red Cross disaster responders Joe Bender and Jhoanny Perez put together individual meals in the back of a Red Cross emergency vehicle in Harlesville, South Carolina. The food is for people in need due to being impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Waiting outside is a line of people who are waiting for meals to be delivered. 

Photo Credit: Bob Wallace/American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is continuing its long-term collaboration with the Disaster Relief of the Southern Baptist Convention. The two organizations are working together to assist people in South Carolina who need food in the aftermath Hurricane Matthew and its associated flooding. The Southern Baptist provides mobile kitchens and staff to prepare food. The Red Cross provides the food to be prepared and then distributes the meals using their fleet of emergency vehicles. 

Photo Credit: Bob Wallace/American Red Cross