by Kim Mailes, American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Public Affairs
“This time it’s different,” said American Red Cross volunteer Julia Muirhead. “This comes from somewhere deep in the heart.”
Julia, from the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Wyoming Region of the Red Cross, has deployed to many disasters over the years. A volunteer since 1996, she’s responded to wildfires, hurricanes, you name it. Last week she accepted another assignment to deploy to a California wildfire disaster. But then, a few hours later, the phone rang again.
“I’ve been told you’re from eastern Kentucky. Would you rather supervise a shelter for those displaced by the flooding disaster there?”
Immediately, Julia knew that was where she needed to be. She arrived and couldn’t believe the devastation that had ravaged the beautiful hills and hollers where she had been raised. Despite hoping her family had escaped the worst, she discovered they had been greatly affected. But those who had escaped serious harm were doing their part, pitching in to do what they could to alleviate the suffering of their neighbors.
Julia discovered that one of her cousins was still missing and unaccounted for; another cousin had lost their home in the flood; another cousin’s mobile home had been shoved into the middle of the road and then pushed to the shoulder by a semi-truck so emergency crews could proceed. Yet, despite all that, other members of her extended family were volunteering at a distribution center to rush supplies to those most affected.
It was surreal when Julia walked into the shelter facility she had been assigned to supervise. Setting up an emergency shelter on the same basketball court where she had cheered her high school basketball team to victory flooded her with memories.
“I haven’t been back home in years,” Julia said. “Getting to see my aunts who are coming to the shelter to volunteer has been awesome.”
Pausing to reflect on her feelings, Julia said, “This one hits the heart. This one makes me understand what the Red Cross is for. I never dreamed this would happen to the place where I grew up.”
When asked how long she planned to volunteer on the Kentucky disaster relief operations, she said, “I’m hoping until the end. I’ll stay here as long as they need me. I’ve got places to stay and kinfolks who’ll take care of me.”
How You Can Help
You can help people affected by disasters like floods, fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters.
Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation