By: Logan Wright, Disaster Public Affairs, New Mexico Flooding Response

Becca Havens, a Red Cross volunteer partner for San Juan County, is currently a service associate at the shelter in Farmington, NM, which opened in late October in response to historic flooding in the area. Her day consists of taking care of resident needs, cleaning and disinfecting, and supporting the residents emotionally as they navigate their recovery. She walks through the dormitories, stops to pet the animals (she knows all their names), and solves the hundreds of unseen problems that arise during a disaster.

“A lot of these people have been through the worst days of their lives. There’s lots of administrative things that have to be done, but taking care of people who are hurting is a big challenge. But it’s extremely rewarding. So it’s hard, but because it’s so hard, that’s what makes it so great,” she said.

Becca is prepared for this. In fact, Becca is probably one of the most prepared people in San Juan County. The Red Cross is a huge part of her life, from emergencies like this to Prepare with Pedro, the children’s program that introduces young students to readiness with the help of Pedro the Penguin mascot. She’s also on the local emergency planning committee and helps with the local exercises to keep the team sharp.

Becca just went through such a preparedness exercise in September, where she practiced reunification services to help people separated by disaster be reconnected with loved ones. The team shared lunch with the first responders, who did their annual county exercises at the same time.

“We have a really great relationship with a lot of first responders in our area, which was really nice because when the shelter opened up, I was able to pick up my phone and start calling people and making things happen within hours,” she said. 

That compassion and experience may have saved lives. At the beginning of the disaster, a couple was referred to her for possible intake into the shelter. Ongoing conditions and the stress and destruction of the flooding had brought them nearly to a mental health crisis and personal harm. They were very hesitant to come to the Red Cross because they did not know what kind of needs a shelter could support or how its volunteers may respond to people with elevated needs. Becca encouraged them to come down to the site and just speak for a while to determine their next moves.

“I was able to sit down with them and really get to know them and just be kind, just be a loving person. I was able to convince them to stay. We got them set up and I really spent some extra time just taking care of them, making sure they had some things and an area that would make them more comfortable… they just needed somebody to listen to them, and not to listen for a couple seconds but really listen to them, and hear them, and hear the pain they were going through.”

Now every day when Becca comes in to check on them, they check on her as well. They are happy and smiling, and moving forward together.

As the residents continue through their recovery, Becca stays committed to her work in the shelter.

 “I will be here as long as I am useful. I don’t plan on leaving. This is my community. I don’t feel like I can go home and return back to everyday life until this is over. It doesn’t feel right to just stop. These are my people, this is my home. I want to help people everywhere, but people living in my very own community gives me the biggest sense of pride.”

Volunteers like Becca are at the heart of the Red Cross mission. To start a volunteer journey, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.