Kyle Olson Jr. [left photo], Jessica Govoni and their two children [right photo] found recovery support and comfort after severe weather toppled a tree onto their home in Folsom, LA.

By Stephen Crawford, American Red Cross Volunteer

For Kyle Olson Jr. and his partner, Jessica Govoni, life with their two children was routine. Their rental house in Folsom, La., really was home after the three years they’d grown as a family there. Even as a single-income family with tight margins, they were in a place of relative comfort.

Springtime storms aren’t uncommon in Louisiana, so they weren't especially concerned the night of March 11 when bad weather began. Everything changed in an instant when a lightning strike sent a massive tree through their roof. The family was stunned but safe. Soon, however, they learned their home was completely uninhabitable.

Financially, the notice to vacate couldn’t have come at a worse time. Jessica works full-time and Kyle has cerebral palsy. Her income, along with his supplemental benefits for the month, were gone.

According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, more than half of Americans are only one missed check away from a major crisis. As the cost of living continues to rise while wages stagnate, that number will likely continue growing. There simply isn’t much margin for error in a 2026 budget, especially as climate‑driven disasters add new, unpredictable financial shocks for families already stretched thin.

"We paid the rent on the 3rd and the tree fell on our house on the 11th," Olson said. "I already had my housing expenses paid for. What am I going to do?".

Though family was nearby, no one had the space to take in four people. For the first time, they faced the terrifying reality of having nowhere to go when Kyle’s brother, a firefighter, suggested that they reach out to the Red Cross. They were floored by the response.

They received vital financial assistance and a hotel room for a week, but he said the human connection was invaluable and beyond any expectations. Kyle said Susan Doherty-Funke, a Regional Recovery Client Care Volunteer, was more like a guardian angel.

"She was there for moral support,” he said. “The Red Cross wasn't just there for money. They were there for anything we needed, even just someone to talk to. And they acted like it was no big deal, like ‘We do this every day".

Indeed they do. Susan and Red Cross caseworkers nationwide are relentless in their pursuit of relief when it’s needed. Often, she’s left awestruck by those she’s helping—even when things are dire.

“From day one, you could hear their love and commitment to make a new home,” Doherty-Funke said. “Kyle worked with us even when the news was not what he was hoping to hear”.

Support is particularly important for stabilization after children experience traumatic events. For uncertain parents tasked with comforting their children, sometimes the most expensive commodity is a simple moment of peace. For Kyle and Jessica, having their own space was essential.

"We were trying to be the rock for our children, even though we were crumbling inside," he said. "Having that room from the Red Cross gave us a door to lock and a place to tell them, 'It’s okay, we’re safe now,' even when we weren't sure what tomorrow looked like".

For Kyle, the experience has fundamentally altered how he views the Red Cross. Once "a logo on a commercial," to him the Red Cross is now something altogether different. They plan on joining the Red Cross volunteer team when the time is right and are already thinking about ways to give back.

The American Red Cross depends on the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors to deliver relief to families like Kyle’s every day. Find out how you can get involved and make a difference at redcross.org/louisiana.