By Bruce Jenks, Red Cross Volunteer

When an ice storm shut down Charlotte, and emergency vehicles were the only ones on the road, Jackie Simpson waited for a fire truck to take her to the shelter.

Jackie spent forty-four years in higher education administration. Thirty -seven at the University of North Carolina Charlotte as associate vice chancellor and director of housing. The skills Jackie learned, “creating calm out of chaos” with a 24/7 residential community of young people, prepared Jackie well for disaster services. Jackie began her service with the Red Cross in 2017 as a disaster action team responder. Eventually, she became a shelter lead in Mecklenburg County.

A Storm, Treacherous Road Conditions, and a Ride from the Fire Department

During the 2026 ice storm, road conditions were so dangerous that volunteers were temporarily prohibited from driving. Even if Jackie wanted to drive to the shelter, she was not permitted to do so. Eventually, the fire department came to pick her up, collected a county nurse along the way, and delivered them to the shelter in the evening. By the time Jackie arrived, the shelter was already open and busy. Her priority was to learn everything she needed to take over the morning shift.

Warmth, Food, and a Few Hours of Relief

Many of the guests were people experiencing homelessness, and the shelter provided critical warmth and stability during the frigid weather. Word of the shelter spread, and people continued to arrive, even up to 2:00 AM on the morning of demobilization.

Relationships: What Underpins Successful Sheltering

What makes the difference, Jackie insists, is not a single organization but rather a network of relationships built over the years. Because local partners had built trust long before the storm, guests received coordinated support, including medical care, security, pet accommodations, and help planning their next steps.

A transitional housing group helped guests identify next steps for shelter after closure, and transportation to get there. Emergency management leaders later said the shelter played a vital role in protecting vulnerable residents during the storm.

One Moment that Lingers

Jackie shared a quiet exchange that has stayed with her. A man asked her to call his sister because his phone had died. Jackie dialed the number, she identified herself, and passed along the message. Days later, as the shelter was closing, the man asked, “Did my sister call back?” She had not. Jackie wishes she could have offered something more certain. She could not. She told him the truth. She stayed present. She treated him with dignity.