When disaster strikes, the kindness and expertise of strangers is a welcomed and much-needed response. As natural and man-made disasters increase in frequency and intensity, it’s wise to be prepared for such unwelcomed events. As we celebrate Red Cross Month this March, the South Florida Red Cross is increasing its vigilance to ensure that the region is equipped with fully trained volunteers ready to respond should disaster strike. You can help by joining our fantastic team of volunteers who step up to help their community respond to disasters, big and small.

South Florida has been spared from the effects of a major hurricane in recent years, but the rest of the state has not been immune to disasters. In January 2022, a string of tornadoes struck Southwest Florida and caused significant damage leaving people without food and water and, in some cases, shelter. Or think about no-notice disasters such as the Surfside building collapse. Equally important, home fires are unseen personal tragedies and the country’s most frequent disaster, usually unknown except by neighbors. In the U.S., the Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes, and our volunteers are always ready to help those in need by providing care and comfort during times of adversity.

“Being a Red Cross volunteer is a very important part of my life,” says Ron Blank, Palm Beach and Treasure Coast Shelter Coordinator. “For instance, immediately after the tornadoes made landfall in Fort Myers, I rushed there to help many people who had lost their mobile homes by providing them with food, water and shelter after we did a detailed assessment of the damage, home by home. They were so grateful for the Red Cross’s assistance. They called us their ‘angels.’”

Volunteers are needed for various positions such as helping a displaced family after a home fire, supporting hundreds of families after a major disaster or providing meals and conducting damage assessment in a community devastated by a wildfire, tornado or hurricane. Training to be a Red Cross volunteer is free, so you’re able to develop new skills, make new acquaintances and find a renewed sense of purpose at no cost.

“One of my jobs is to ensure we have a trained workforce capacity in the event of a major disaster such as a hurricane,” says Ron Blank. “If that happens, we need people who know how to help in evacuation centers with intake and logistics capabilities to organize the flow of people and needed supplies. As we approach the summer season, now is the time for volunteers to take the training to prepare for a possible hurricane.”

Volunteers make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce. They are the true community heroes like Ron Blank, who give their time and talent to make a difference in the lives of others. Have you heard the expression “random acts of kindness”? Volunteering is a collective random act of kindness to help others in need. The rewards are great for all. Think about adding a new purpose to your life by volunteering with the Red Cross. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit redcross.org/SFLvolunteer.

Written by Mary Carey Churchill, American Red Cross Public Affairs