Story based on reflections from Megan Snow, Northwest Region

The last couple of days have been a terrifying time, not only in Spokane, but across Eastern and Central Washington. Fires spread rapidly, consuming thousands of acres, threatening communities and forcing families to make difficult decisions with little warning.

As the Red Cross worked to open shelters and support people affected by the wildfires, longtime Spokane Red Cross staff member Megan Snow stepped into an unexpected role. She spent the day answering calls on the Spokane office's main phone line while disaster workers focused on shelter operations.

The phone never stopped ringing.

For nearly seven hours, Snow spoke with people experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives.

A mother with two young children sobbed as she tried to figure out where her family would go next.

A granddaughter called from California, desperately trying to locate her grandmother in an evacuation zone.

An exhausted couple traveling with six cats had spent hours driving and waiting, uncertain whether they would be allowed to return home.

A woman described watching her house burn in her rearview mirror as she fled the neighborhood where she had lived for more than 30 years.

"These are conversations that will stay with me forever," Snow said.

Every caller needed something different. Some were looking for shelter information. Others needed help locating loved ones, understanding available resources or simply finding reassurance amid so much uncertainty.

For Snow, the calls provided a powerful glimpse into the far-reaching impact of the fires.

"It was the hardest and most emotionally exhausting day of my professional life," she said.

Yet it also reinforced why disaster responders show up.

Every time she answered the phone, Snow knew she might not have all the answers. But she could listen, provide information and help connect people with support.

Behind the scenes, Red Cross volunteers and disaster workers were working around the clock to respond to the growing needs across the region. Shelters were opening, supplies were being delivered and teams from across the country were arriving to help.

"There is still so much uncertainty," Snow said. "No one could have predicted a disaster of this scale unfolding in the middle of our community."

She has watched local volunteers work alongside Red Cross disaster workers who traveled from states including Texas, Ohio and Arizona to support Washington communities.

The people arriving at shelters are facing a wide range of challenges. Some have medical needs. Others are caring for pets and animals they evacuated with. Nearly all are grappling with uncertainty about what comes next.

But one thing has stood out to Snow throughout the response.

"They are not facing this alone," she said.

No disaster response is perfect, especially during fast-moving emergencies. But the commitment of volunteers, disaster workers and community partners has been unwavering.

"Every single person here is doing everything they can to help our community through this crisis," Snow said.

As wildfire response efforts continue across Washington, the voices on the other end of the phone remain a reminder of what disasters are really about: people. Families searching for answers. Neighbors worried about one another. Communities coming together in moments of uncertainty.

And for one day in Spokane, those stories came through one phone call at a time.