When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, Deb Tucker felt called to help. That response turned into an 18-year commitment to the Red Cross that gave her more than she had ever expected.

She jumped right in with a two-day disaster response training at the Red Cross office in Topeka. While she assumed her assignment would be to Louisiana or Texas to assist those impacted by the hurricane, her first deployment was closer to home. Flooding had affected her area and a local church was opening a shelter. For ten days, she worked alongside other volunteers to serve her fellow community members.

Eventually, Deb to deployed to other major disasters across the country, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and other large-scale emergencies. Her service even took her to Guam and Saipan.

Then came her retirement. Deb looked forward to spending more time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Deb’s mother, Peggy, lives with Deb’s brother and his family in the home where Deb grew up. Peggy had recently completed cancer treatment, an important milestone they were celebrating.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on July 4, she received a devastating phone call from her brother.

"We just lost our house in a fire."

The home that held generations of memories was engulfed in flames. Thankfully, everyone made it out safely, even the family’s two puppies thanks to Peggy’s quick thinking.

When Deb learned of the fire, one of her first calls was to longtime friend and fellow Red Cross volunteer, Jim Smallback, who has served with the Red Cross for 13 years and worked alongside Deb for many of them. Jim, still an active volunteer, immediately offered guidance and support. Soon Jim and his wife, Lynda, also a dedicated Red Crosser, became the disaster action volunteers that helped Deb's family navigate the recovery process.

Additional support came from Carol Arnold, the Community Disaster Program Manager, who met with the family, and Judith Haffner, a Red Cross nurse, who helped address urgent health-related needs. Many of Peggy’s essential belongings, including her CPAP machine and medications, were lost in the fire, making that support especially important.

For Deb and her family, the assistance they received went far beyond financial help or replacing necessities.

The time spent around the table, guiding us through this devastating event, meant everything to our family," Deb said.

After years of helping others recover from disaster, Deb experienced firsthand the compassion, care, and support that Red Cross volunteers bring to families in crisis.