While the Dixie County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicine team was making its usual rounds checking on residents, they noticed something troubling — a large tree had fallen onto the home of one of their regular clients.

Community Paramedicine is an innovative program designed to fill healthcare gaps in rural areas, offering in-home visits and health services to residents who might otherwise go without. But that day, they saw a problem that went far beyond medicine.

Recognizing the danger, the team quickly reached out to local American Red Cross workers, Cynthia and Amanda, who responded to assess the damage. The homeowner, already overwhelmed, was provided with immediate financial assistance for essentials like food, clothing, and temporary shelter — a core Red Cross service when disaster strikes.

But this situation needed something more. The heavy red oak limb was still perched precariously on the roof, threatening to cause more damage or even collapse. The homeowner didn’t have the resources — or the strength — to remove it herself.

“Tree removal and chainsaw work aren’t exactly on the Red Cross list of services,” one volunteer noted with a smile, “but it was still a need all the same.”

That’s where partners made all the difference. Amanda reached out to one of our community partners with specialized skills in chainsaw operations and debris removal. With their help, Marc, a Red Crosser with close ties to the group, quickly mobilized a small crew to assist.

“Within days, we had five volunteers out there — Red Cross and our partner organization together,” said Marc. “It might not have been a big job by our standards, but for her, it meant everything. That tree was threatening her home, and she had no one else to call.”

The team spent the morning safely cutting away the fallen oak, clearing the roof, and cutting the wood into manageable pieces the homeowner could keep or sell. The work may have taken only a few hours, but the impact was significant — saving her hundreds of dollars in removal costs and, more importantly, preventing further structural damage.

It was a perfect example of what happens when community agencies and partners work hand in hand.

“The Red Cross is there to help families get back on their feet after disaster — whether that means financial help, emotional support, or connecting them to others who can do what we can’t,” said Marc. “And partnerships like this make it possible to take care of the whole picture.”

In the end, one homeowner’s worry was lifted — literally — thanks to the teamwork of Dixie County Fire Rescue, the American Red Cross, and our dedicated partners. It’s a reminder that recovery takes a village — and sometimes, a good chainsaw.