By Bethany Bray Patterson 

Brian Waymire has been vacationing in St. Pete Beach, Florida for the past 15 or 20 years. This fall, he returned to the barrier island community—but he did not bring his bathing suit. Instead, he helped distribute emergency supplies to area residents as part of American Red Cross disaster relief after Hurricane Helene. 

It was a meaningful, “full circle” experience to give back to the community he’s enjoyed so many times on vacation, said Waymire, a longtime Red Cross volunteer who lives in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. 

“There was a feeling of ‘we’re all in this together’ among the Red Cross volunteers,” Waymire said of his Florida deployment. “When there was a need, we would all just jump in and take care of that need, whether it was loading a truck or driving a route. There was a lot of comradery and friendships formed.” 

Helene slammed into the Florida coast as a category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26 and churned Northward, leaving a path of destruction and heartbreak through the Carolinas and other states. Not only have Red Cross disaster workers deployed from across the county to South Carolina to help after the hurricane, numerous South Carolina volunteers have deployed to help in other states. 

Ninety percent of the Red Cross workforce is comprised of compassionate volunteers like Brian. Trained disaster workers were in place before the first drops of rain fell and will continue to support people impacted by Helene and Milton in the weeks and months ahead. 

Waymire deployed to Tallahassee on Sept. 29. From there, he drove a truck and delivered emergency supplies throughout Florida, first in the Tampa area and then down to Miami, and eventually back up to Fort Lauderdale. 

Waymire’s team had to shelter-in-place while Hurricane Milton hit the Sunshine State on Oct. 10. “I have deployed with the Red Cross a lot, and this is the first time I’ve experienced a second hurricane [while deployed],” he said. “I never worried because the Red Cross puts its volunteers first and keeps us safe.” 

“Whenever I deploy with the Red Cross, moving around and being relocated is normal. Flexibility is key. I never unpack my suitcase,” he adds with a chuckle. 

In St. Pete Beach, it looked like a snowstorm had hit – but the snow was sand, he said. After Helene, there was sand and debris strewn everywhere, and the buildings along the coast had three or four feet of floodwater inside. 

Waymire delivered truckloads of essential items such as work gloves, flashlights, garbage bags, masks, hand sanitizer and other important clean-up supplies. It was clear that these supplies were much needed, said Waymire, because residents would gather at distribution sites and wait in line to receive items. 

“There was a lot of damage to homes,” he said. “Often, as we would be unloading the truck, people would be waiting to receive items, especially the tarps, rakes and shovels.” 

The Red Cross is working around the clock to ensure that people impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton get the help they need to get on the road to recovery, but we can't do this alone. People affected by these disasters need urgent help now. You can help by making a financial donation, an appointment to give blood or joining us as a volunteer. To help, visit RedCross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.