by Jackie Parsons, American Red Cross, Pacific Islands Region

April showers had a different tone this year for residents of Harney County, Oregon. Starting in March, the snowy mountains near the city of Burns began to melt and heavy rainfall overwhelmed the local areas, leading to historic level flooding. But amid the rising waters and uncertainty, Red Cross volunteers like Brian Tokita stepped in to bring comfort, supplies, and hope to the small community of about 7,500 residents.

When Brian arrived, floodwaters were already contaminated with raw sewage, prompting warnings about E. coli exposure. Equipped with high rubber boots, he spent three days conducting Disaster Assessment (DA), walking around 10,000 steps each day to check on homes, talk to residents, and listen to their stories.

“Most people had done everything they could,” Brian said. “They built walls of sandbags to try to protect their homes, but many still got flooded — especially those in the lower areas.”

Despite the damage, Brian was inspired by the residents’ resilience. “I was amazed at how positive many of the affected residents were despite what they experienced. They all wanted to share their stories with us,” he said. Not every moment was easy. Some areas had restricted access, leaving some residents inaccessible — but Brian and the team didn’t let that stop them. They parked on the public street nearby, and residents came to them instead, grateful for the supplies and support.

After three days of assessment, Brian was reassigned to work in a warehouse and help with distribution efforts. The team operated like a well-oiled machine — one volunteer walked people through available supplies, another kept track of what was taken, and Brian loaded supplies into cars.

“The place ran to perfection,” Brian said. Residents were surprised to hear that the Red Cross team hadn’t worked together before.

“One woman asked where each of us was from,” Brian shared. “When I told her Hawaii, she said, ‘You came all the way over here just for us?’ I told her, ‘Yes, you guys are a big deal.’”

This was Brian’s fourth deployment with the Red Cross, and he continues to be amazed by the organization’s reach and resources.

Working side by side with fellow volunteers, sharing laughs and long days, and witnessing the strength of people in crisis — this is the heart of what Red Cross service is all about.