Snohomish County Chapter American Red Cross volunteer Tim Serban was deployed
to American Samoa Friday, October 2 as member of the National Red Cross Response
Team. Tim is the Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care with Providence
Regional Medical Center Everett and has been a volunteer with Red Cross since 1999.
His first volunteer training with the Red Cross was in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.
Tim is thumb-typing these reports and sending them home using his I-pod mobile
device--when connections are available.
..............................................................................
DAY 1: Saturday 10/3/09
Action report briefing from military included warnings about tsunami
washing sand away uncovering many unexploded WWII ordinance, advising
volunteers to shut off cell phones immediately, mark the spot and call
the military EOD teams. Not expected and not grounded here in the
island.
We arrived via USAF C-17 "Spirit of Kamehameh" into American Samoa
after an 11 hour hold in Hawaii and a 5.5 hour flight. We came to our
shelter, an outdoor, covered gymnasium aptly named Ionnnes Paules II
(John Paul II) at 4 a.m. A quick rest and wake at 7 a.m. off to the HQ--a
tent with a warehouse and office that was created by welding two 40 ft
cargo containers together side by side.
Connected with Mental Health, Client Services and Partner Services
leads. Was informed about VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) meeting
at 1pm with Partner Services. Attended Partner Services meeting/call with
National VOAD. Local UCC (United Church of Christ) Pastor and key local leaders, 10
people including FEMA and DSHH Reps. Addressed need for emotional support of
those impacted. Plan to go out tomorrow to support men in grief with another MH
(Mental Health) ARC member. LBJ hospital to refer those who have been
hospitalized and released to us to follow, especially men and those
who have lost children for follow-up.
Also was able to check and confirm two local families living in high
impact areas were safe and well. They were families of staff from my
home hospital in Everett.
By the way I have connectivity in, where else, the only McDs (McDonalds) on the island
and primary source of sustenance for us.
..............................................................................
DAY 2: Sunday 10/4/09
Following a local invitation to attend Mass at Christ the King parish
it was truly moving as it was the community's first Sunday service since the earthquake
& tsunami.
Action items of the day. After teaming up with local Mental Health resources in
the community I went on to an area of Leone, A. Samoa. Being male
support people, we we're tasked with the job to attempt to reach out
to key men in the local community who have faced the greatest loss
ever, their children.
How, as a father would you face the grief of losing your children fleeing their school to
try to make it home? How would you handle the deep grief of not only losing your home
but also facing the reality that you could have lost your entire family and how do you
celebrate the fact that all survived except your little angel, your only daughter who was
just six years old? These were just some
of the realities we walked into today.
I can say one thing that really connects with kids is the fist bump and blow-up. If you
don't know what it is, ask your kids or grandkids. We met with a teacher of
preschoolers who is facing the reality of school starting tomorrow and
what to say or do to help them process the grief of who doesn't end
up showing up for school and the fear that those who didn't show may
not be ever coming back.
That will be our call tomorrow, as we have
been requested by local leaders to begin to meet with teachers and
helping them address their grief just before stepping into the
classroom.
Then there are us men. Two of us, another Northwest area Red Cross volunteer and
myself, the epitome of a grandfather and "younger" father who have found a
team approach in supporting men in grief and helping them know it's "for
their kids sake" and their own that they get help.
We are considering ways to connect leaders in the communities with
those who are in shock and trying to survive. Coming by this Friday
will be the work of two families to have the funerals of their
children, which means digging their own child's grave, all of which
are in the front yard of the family home. Then bringing family
together and hosting them in what would have been your home, but is
now uninhabitable and there are not many options for alternatives,
tradition, culture, honor, and history mandate that, for one to have honor
that they would do these things.
Call it part of the grief work, families with loss often are working tremendously hard and
they do have the love and support of amazing community family commitment. All will
surround them; the prayer of this community is a constant source of strength. They
welcome every bit of support and advice for
caring for their kids their children and themselves. The little we
provide is much when you have limited access to such support.
Today? One of those once in a lifetime over the top days that change
your life because you walk with people in places of loss and when we
leave we see a bit of hope and a child who with silent smiles wishing
you Tofa! (goodbye) with a fist bump-blow-up!
..............................................................................
DAY 3: Monday 10/5/09
Today began at 6 a.m. as we were requested to partner with Key DOH psych
leaders to start at two schools, one elementary academy and one
vocational high school. It (school) starts today and many emotions of the
teachers and students for the first day back.
300 students at an elementary school and one colleague covered this location;
I covered support to 400 students at the high school through the
morning. They had an assembly and I was the presenter on handling the
grief, stress and emotional aftershocks of a disaster. The students
were open, honest and asked deep questions. Many were personally
impacted and those who lost a family member came up to me directly to
process their grief.
Following the assembly at the high school I went back to the
elementary school and was invited into a 6 grade class who had lost
their classmate. They asked open questions about their fears, their
concerns and their hopes for the family of their lost classmate. They
decorated pictures and outlined the depth of this loss and how they
experienced the shock of the earthquake and tsunami.
They will be making a site visit with their classmates and teacher, to the site
where she (their classmate) was swept away and they will sing songs and leave flowers
in hopes that one day her body will be found. Such depth and incredible
honesty with what they need in order to grieve, is equivalent to adults.
The rest of the day was spent processing with teachers. Even the 5-
year-olds drew amazing pictures of their face after the tsunami and
bird's nest grief assessments. The faces: half were smiles and the
others were sad. When asked, the sad (faces) were Mad at the ocean and happy faces
were Happy that their homes were safe.
Still unpacking, next plan for coming day, possibly based at LBJ
hospital to assess support needed for families at the morgue
operations.
First priority, those in greatest need.
11/6/09
You never think it will happen to you...
Rebecca’s local Red Cross chapter was there to help the couple pick up the pieces in time for their baby’s arrival—but only because supporters like you pitched in to make it possible.
“Red Cross was a tremendous help when we had only the clothes on our backs,” Rebecca says.“They were able to help us get clothes, toiletries, and even offered to help find us a place to stay while we got back on our feet.”
The need for funds is constant. Can you donate now, to keep your community safe and prepared and give help and hope to families like Rebecca’s when they’ve got nowhere else to turn?
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFO!
Sadly, Rebecca’s story is not uncommon. In fact, every eight minutes, a local Red Cross like ours responds to a house fire somewhere in the United States. And these fires are always devastating. But you can help a neighbor in need, like Rebecca, the next time disaster strikes, by making a donation to the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina.
Thank you so much for your help. By getting involved and supporting our work today, you can change a life, starting with your own.
DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER!
CLICK HERE!
(Source: Susan McCracken, Regional Board Chair (ARC of Upstate SC Region)
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