In the middle of the night in June 1982, floodwaters changed Ellen Vaughan’s life forever.

At the time, Ellen was a child living with her family in Essex, Connecticut, when the historic Bushy Hill Dam failed. Built in 1697 and rebuilt in 1721 under the order of King George I, the dam had protected the shoreline and powered local mills for more than 280 years. When it broke, water rushed through the Vaughan family home, rising to nearly four feet.

“Our world had turned upside down,” Ellen recalled.

As families across the community began to process the devastation, help arrived quickly. The very next day, the American Red Cross was on the ground, providing essential support, supplies and relief to those impacted by the flooding. “They helped stabilize the chaos when everything felt overwhelming,” Ellen shared.

For Ellen, the Red Cross response wasn’t just about meeting physical needs, it was about compassion during a moment of deep fear and loss. In the aftermath of the flood, Ellen searched desperately for one thing that brought her comfort: her Snoopy doll. “I was crying quietly, looking for my Snoopy,” she said. A Red Cross volunteer noticed and handed her a brand-new Snoopy toy. Ellen said, “it was such a simple gesture, but to me, it meant everything.”

Decades later, that moment of kindness came full circle. Today, Ellen serves as the Director of Development for the American Red Cross South Florida Region. What began as a childhood experience of vulnerability has grown into a lifelong commitment to service. That now guides her work every day, helping ensure the Red Cross can continue to respond to disasters, support families in crisis and offer hope when it’s needed most.

Ellen’s story is a powerful reminder that the impact of disaster response goes far beyond immediate relief. It’s about humanity, compassion and showing up for people during their darkest moments. “It’s one of the most powerful reminders of both my family’s resilience and the critical presence of the Red Cross in times of disaster,” said Ellen.