By: Michael Bowman

The American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters each year. But for volunteers like Jody Williams, deployment to towns across America means more than responding to another emergency. It is an opportunity to unite people in a common mission by helping people rebuild their community after disaster strikes.

By day, Williams serves as the Chief Deputy Coordinator for the Poinsett County Office of Emergency Management in Arkansas. One of his friends suggested Jody’s experience in emergency management would be a good fit with the Red Cross and encouraged him to volunteer. “So I did,” said Williams. “I joined and I've loved it.”

As a Red Cross volunteer with the Southeast Missouri-Northeast Arkansas (SEMO-NEAR) Chapter, Jody Williams has helped families whose homes were destroyed by fire and communities devastated by storms. Recently, he deployed to major disasters across the country, gaining firsthand experience of the nationwide impact of the Red Cross mission. One of those deployments was to Merrillville, Indiana.

In June, a series of tornadoes tore through several Midwestern states, leaving significant damage in their path. One city that hit hard was Merrillville, Indiana. Red Cross disaster action team members quickly mobilized to provide immediate assistance to the people in Merrillville. As the community worked to rebuild, disaster struck again in August when another series of tornadoes struck Merrillville.

Once again, the Red Cross answered the call, gathering much needed supplies and deploying volunteers to help. One of those volunteers was Jody Williams. When he arrived, he was amazed at what he saw.

“They hadn't even recovered from the first one,” Williams shared. “And a disaster action team member made the remark “it's hard to tell difference between the first one and the second one. There was bricks off certain buildings and damage everywhere.”

As supplies started pouring into Merrillville, Red Cross volunteers like Williams hit the ground running. “My first two weeks was working in a warehouse, unloading semis and box trucks. And then I changed to transportation.”

As a member of the SEMO-NEAR chapter, Jody worked alongside Red Cross volunteers from across the United States during his deployment to Indiana. “There were people from West Virginia, Texas, California, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida.” Each volunteer brought their own unique skills and experiences to not only help the people of Indiana but support their fellow Red Cross volunteers in the recovery effort.

“The big thing is that everybody is there to help the community,” said Williams.  “If somebody does not understand what's being asked of them, there is no hard feelings about asking, “Can you explain this a little bit more and go into detail of what you're asking me to do?” There's been multiple times that I had to do that on a disaster response. But it all came together for the better good.”

The spirit of selfless teamwork is essential to prepare Red Cross volunteers for a wide range of disaster responses. Through each deployment Jody Williams helped communities devastated by ice storms, floods, and tornadoes, requiring volunteers to tailor their response to help those in need.

“All have been completely different,” said Williams. “For the ice storm, we were able to provide water. In the flooding in Ironton, Missouri, we opened two shelters. And it makes you feel great that you can help communities in certain ways.

Being a Red Cross disaster responder involves more than supplying the community with food, water, and shelter. It involves being there for people in their darkest moment, offering compassionate support to people devastated by disasters. This was true with the residents of Merrillville, struggling to rebuild their lives in the wake of two tornadoes only months apart.

“I heard multiple times, “I just lost my house two months ago and here it is again. Why? Why is this happening?”

For those people and countless other communities across the country, the immediate response by Red Cross disaster team members like Jody Williams does more than bring much needed supplies in the aftermath of disasters. The Red Cross brings compassion and hope during difficult moments.

“And it got them to thinking. Instead of “Why this is happening?” it is to look at all these resources. Look at everything that's being brought to the table as a community.”

Bringing hope to those impacted by disasters inspires Red Cross disaster responders to go above and beyond in the service of their communities. Having seen firsthand the impact that Red Cross responses have on the lives of people devastated by disasters only confirms Jody Williams’ commitment to helping wherever needed. While he proudly serves the Southeast Missouri-Northeast Arkansas chapter, he looks forward to supporting disaster relief efforts across the country.

“It makes me want to go on more deployments,” Williams remarked. “Go help more of these communities. You're able to do so much more if you travel to other places.”