On October 30, 2022, Brooksville resident Krystal Biser and her family lost everything in a devastating home fire. Her sister, who was there at the time, exited the home right before it was consumed in flames. Within minutes, half of the house was gone.

It’s a frighteningly common occurrence: A fire erupts in someone’s home and in minutes, everything they know and love is lost.

“All our stuff was in there, clothes, shoes, tvs, uniforms for my 4-year-old that we just purchased,” Krystal explained.  Of the many items lost, Krystal says the most difficult was her 13-year-old’s favorite stuffed animal, a giraffe she received the night her uncle passed away. The giraffe, named after her uncle, was irreplaceable. Along with the loss of precious mementos, her 4-year-old, who is developmentally delayed, often asks, “when are we going back home?”

A friend suggested Krystal call the American Red Cross for help. She did not realize the Red Cross responds everyday disasters like home fires. “It was overwhelming,” she said. “I don’t usually ask for help. This is the first time I ever went through something so traumatic, so I didn’t know what to do. They (the Red Cross) walked me through every step.”

While her family was devastated and her children have struggled, they have taken steps forward. Her 13-year-old is attending counseling for emotional support, and just days after the fire, Krystal received a new job offer which she takes that as a positive sign of starting over.

She remains grateful to have the support she needed during this disastrous time in her family’s life. “If I didn’t get the help from the Red Cross, I don’t know where I’d be.”

For the thousands of people like Krystal and her family who will experience a personal disaster like a home fire, the Red Cross stands ready to respond with shelter, comfort and hope. Across the country, nearly 180 times a day, our Disaster Action Team volunteers step in to assist a family left reeling by a home fire or other disaster. This support is a lifeline to families in their moment of greatest need.

To help people affected by disasters big and small, visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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