Lisa Scott is a Upstate SC Volunteer helping with casework for victims of the April 13th storms.
The American Red Cross has helped more than 500 people across South Carolina after catastrophic tornadoes touched down on April 13th. Numerous tornadoes were reported, destroying homes and leaving people without power for days.
In South Carolina, our teams have seen over 2,200 overnight shelter stays since the April 13, served over 10,000 meals and snacks, and completed hundreds of damage assessments across the state.
During this coronavirus crisis when the nation is practicing social distancing, the Red Cross has new measures in place to deliver help to people in need while also following social distancing guidelines. Instead of opening shelters, we’re prioritizing individual hotel rooms or dormitory style rooms to make sure people have a safe place to stay if they can’t return home after a disaster. One our teams complete damage assessment and then those impacted are connected with our team of caseworkers.
Our volunteer casework team are the ones that make the personal connection with the victims of the disaster. They help to create recovery plans, navigate complex paperwork and locate help from other agencies.
“They are going through a grief process. When you lose your home, that is a major, major loss. We start helping them and walking them through the next steps. We are their lifeline in many cases,” said Lisa Scott, who is an Upstate, SC volunteer. “They have my permission to call me anytime, anytime they want to talk. We are the ones that can really reach out and give them hope. We are able to let them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Lisa Scott has been doing casework for families impacted by the April 13th storms that hit South Carolina as well as the tornadoes that hit Spartanburg at the beginning of February.
“This is my mission. I must focus on the people; the focus is the families impacted. That is the mission of the Red Cross,” said Scott.
Caseworkers throughout the state continue to help families that had their homes destroyed or sustained major damage. As of Tuesday, April 28th, our teams have opened over 215 cases and are helping more than 500 people.
While living in the COVID 19 enviroment, our work is mostly remote and that is the same for our casework teams.
“You let them know that you are available. Even though I am not there to give them that hug or that physical tough, you have to express that through your words and your emotions you share with them verbally.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Call, click, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.