Story told by Amy Thomas, American Red Cross volunteer

Henry McKie of Columbia, South Carolina was one of more than 60 senior residents displaced after an apartment fire on November 27. While only one apartment was damaged in the fire, 23 residents, including McKie, stayed overnight at an American Red Cross shelter due to a power outage in their apartments.

“I was talking on the phone with my goddaughter, when I heard the announcement that there was a fire emergency and to exit at the closest stairwell,” said McKie of what should have been a quiet evening at home.

Once McKie evacuated outside with the other residents, he saw three fire trucks, two ambulances and multiple law enforcement vehicles pulling up to the apartment complex and beginning to block off the connecting streets. With everything going on around them, McKie recalled that residents were confused on what was going to happen. The Red Cross quickly stepped in and assisted in making sure everyone knew what to do once residents were informed that they would be staying at a shelter for the night.

“The American Red Cross, they really stepped up to the plate. They were hands-on and took each one of us individually and spoke with us and also spoke to us as a group, making sure we all knew what was going on,” McKie remembers how the Red Cross comforted the apartment residents. “One volunteer I remember was hands-on at all times, stopping by multiple times to make sure we were okay and knew what was going on. That really eased the minds of some residents and helped them understand that they could not stay at the apartments due to lack of power after the fire.”

Despite the unfortunate circumstances that led McKie to rely on the Red Cross, he felt that it was a positive experience overall, as he felt supported him and his neighbors were cared for in their time of need in a compassionate way.

“I can’t say enough about the Red Cross. You see on TV the Red Cross responding to events like this, but until you’re involved in it yourself, you have no idea how much they help people out who are in need,” McKie describes his gratitude for the quick response after his building was evacuated. “Like last night, I didn’t expect to see the Red Cross there so quickly; they were there before half of the residents came downstairs. I’m so grateful the Red Cross was there to help us.”