Derrick Frasier was relaxing at home in his Berkeley County apartment when a multiunit fire left him with nothing but the clothes on his back. Luckily, the Red Cross of South Carolina Disaster Action Teams quickly responded to help Derrick and other families impacted with their immediate needs.

"I lost everything. My home was destroyed, and the Red Cross really stepped up to help me out," said Derrick as he remembered the day of the fire. "That same night, I talked to someone, and the next day they had me into a hotel. That's how quick they responded."

Home fires remain the most frequent disaster in our state, and The American Red Cross of South Carolina responds to six home fires every day on average. 

"They had many different people calling to help me with things that I needed like food, a mattress, clothes, any essential thing that I needed – they helped me get it," Derrick described the financial assistance and other resources the Red Cross offered him. "You hear things that the Red Cross does, but you don't really know all that they do until you experience a disaster yourself."

Unfortunately, 40% of Americans don't have $400 to get them through an emergency. Last year alone, the South Carolina Region of the American Red Cross spent more than $1,000,000 assisting families impacted by home fires. 

"The Red Cross has been a great support system. After the fire, I had everyone calling me, from a Chaplin to a counselor to a pharmacist who helped me replace my medicine. Even after I got a new apartment – they were still calling and checking on me periodically," said Derrick of the numerous conversations he had with Red Cross workers following the May event. "The Red Cross was right there for me in my time of need and after. They helped me tremendously to get back on my feet."

Derrick now lives in a different apartment in the same complex, where he can still see the damage the fire caused to his previous home. Today, he's rebuilding and feeling thankful that he wasn't harmed during the disaster.

"You get emotional real fast. As I watched my home burn, I was laughing because I didn't want to cry," recalled Derrick as he realized all he had lost. "There are some things you just can't replace. My kids tell me not to worry about things; they're just glad I'm still here."

Become a Hometown Hero and help families in your community recover from devastating home fires. Your gift provides financial assistance so families can pay for their immediate needs such as food, clothes, personal care items, and hotel stays. Help families get back on their feet by giving the gift of a second chance. Donate today at redcross.org/hometownhero.