Tiffany Gonzalez, SFL Public Affairs

When the call came asking if she was available to deploy to Guam, there wasn't much hesitation.

For Kat Higdon, a volunteer with the American Red Cross Southwest Florida Chapter, saying yes to deployment came naturally. After 15 years as a Red Cross disaster volunteer and 18 previous disaster deployments, answering the call for deployment No. 19 was an opportunity to once again help communities facing unimaginable challenges.

As a Southwest Florida volunteer, Kat knows hurricanes all too well. But responding to a Category 5 super typhoon in the middle of the Pacific would be unlike anything she had experienced before.

It was her first visit to the Mariana Islands, and while she expected to find communities recovering from a devastating storm, she found something even more powerful.

"The people of Guam and Saipan welcomed us like family," Kat said. "Their culture, their kindness, and the respect shown by both the children and the elders are unforgettable."

Even in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Bavi, Kat witnessed remarkable resilience. Many families were still recovering from a previous typhoon when another powerful storm struck. Yet instead of despair, she saw neighbors helping neighbors, families supporting one another, and children finding moments of joy despite the uncertainty around them.

One memory, in particular, will stay with her.

Knowing long power outages were possible, Kat packed a jar of Nutella before leaving home. As families sheltered from the storm, she shared it with the children, creating a small moment of comfort and helping them forget, if only for a little while, the powerful winds raging outside.

"Disasters may damage their homes, but they cannot break the spirit of these islands," Kat said. "Their courage, faith and unity are an inspiration, and I am grateful to serve alongside disaster volunteers from across North America to help such an extraordinary community."

For Kat, every deployment is about more than responding to a disaster, it's about reminding people they are not alone. Whether serving families in Southwest Florida or halfway across the Pacific, she is proud to stand beside communities as they begin the journey toward recovery.