A Captain America tattoo on his arm, Bill Beebe has been helping to transition the Kissimmee Civic Center to an emergency shelter. As hundreds of residents impacted by Hurricane Ian poured into the shelter, Beebe was one of many volunteers setting up cots and blankets and distributing  basic toiletry kits.

“It’s been a challenging situation,… an eye-opening experience,” he said. 

A Red Cross volunteer for two years in central California, Beebe is used to dealing with wildfires, but stated that this disaster relief effort is much larger than what he is used to. Some 1,600 trained Red Cross disaster workers are currently supporting relief efforts in Florida, coming from all across the country.

Originally from Florida, Bill has family in St. Petersburg.  “When I saw where this was hitting, I said I need to go. This is home for me,” he said.  “I got the email asking for volunteers and within minutes, I made the phone call to volunteer.”

Beebe worked alongside other volunteers from the Salvation Army and another local humanitarian organization that helped set up cots in the shelter.  “We’re just here to make sure people who are here are comfortable,” said David Avila, spokesperson for Scientology Volunteer Ministries.

Beebe says he would encourage anyone to answer the call to volunteer.  “We need all the help we can get out here.  There are a lot of people here that need help.  It feels good inside in helping these people and getting them somewhere safe.”

With volunteers like Bill Beebe, who needs Captain America?