NH Trains for Katrina Disaster

40-YEAR-OLD DEE BROWN OF BARRINGTON HAS NEVER BEEN TO A DISASTER SITE BEFORE. ON THE OTHER HAND, SHE’S THE MOTHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN. SHE ALSO DIRECTS A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER FOR TROUBLED TEENAGERS. BROWN SAYS COULD NOT WATCH TELEVISED IMAGES OF THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA – AND NOT GET INVOLVED.

TAPE 1 DEE BROWN 237 I just felt like – I - I just had to do something. I knew it was going to be a life changing experience. And I knew this was the time to do it. I have three small kids at home, I have triplets. And I still feel like this is the time for me to do this, and that, I want to show my kids that this is the thing we should be doing for each other. :18

BROWN WENT TO THE GREAT BAY CHAPTER OF THE RED CROSS, AND SIGNED UP FOR DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING. MARK STAFFORD DIRECTS EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THE CHAPTER. HE CALLS THE RESPONSE TO KATRINA “INCREDIBLE.”

TAPE 3, MARK STAFFORD 413 I actually think the response has been greater for this than for 911, simply because it’s something that people can really understand a little bit easier. And it’s more obvious how the people can be helped. So it really drew out more people because they really think they can DO something this time. :16

STAFFORD THOUGHT 10 OR 15-PEOPLE MIGHT SIGN UP FOR TRAINING. INSTEAD, 150-PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRAINED – AND ANOTHER 200 ARE ON A WAITING LIST FOR IT TO BE OFFERED AGAIN.

NORMALLY, DISASTER TRAINING REQUIRES 11 HOURS OF CLASSROOM TIME. STAFFORD HAS SPED UP THE PROCESS A BIT…. TO 5 HOURS.

TAPE 3, MARK STAFFORD, TEACHING CLASS 275 so we’ll move on to page 9, registration responsibilities. You’re probably not going to have to set up the whole registration area all by yourself… :08 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER] so I’m going to go through just a few things….

THE CLASSES COVER PROCEDURES, AND PROVIDE RATIONALES FOR POLICIES.

TAPE 2, MARK STAFFORD, TEACHING CLASS 518 all red cross disaster services are provided free of charge, as a gift of the American people to those who have disaster caused needs. No disaster supplies are ever sold. It’s not a loan, it’s an outright gift. And some people are going to feel bad, and they’re going to tell you that, ‘I’ll pay you back,’ or whatever. The way they can pay us back if they so choose, is to become a volunteer, or to, later when they’re back on their feet, to donate to the next disaster. But that’s not really paying us back, that’s helping the next people. :30

FOR MANY, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRAINING IS THE DISCUSSION OF HARDSHIP CODES. THE RED CROSS RECOGNIZES 13 DISTINCT TYPES OF HARDSHIP ASSOCIATED WITH DISASTER RELIEF. LINDA McVAY, AN EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER HERSELF, WANTS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY’RE GETTING INTO. PROVIDING RELIEF FOR KATRINA, SHE SAYS, INVOLVES 12 OF THE 13 HARDSHIPS.

TAPE 1 LINDA MCVAY 503 They are, and listen carefully, because if one of these eliminates you, you need to know that. Water disruption. There’s going to be water that’s available in bottles, but it may not always be available, when you think you need it. Power outage. . /// 513 There is extreme heat and humidity. /// 514 there is a housing shortage. // you probably will be in a shelter. :27

MCVAY GOES ON TO INCLUDE LIMITED MEDICAL CARE, EXTREME EMOTIONAL STRESS, – EVERYTHING BUT EXTREME COLD. SHE TELLS THEM TO PACK
FOOD AND A 2 DAY SUPPLY OF WATER, INSECT REPELLENT, FIRST AID SUPPLIES, EYE GLASSES RATHER THAN CONTACTS, BOOTS AND SHOES, NOT SNEAKERS, A SLEEPING BAG, NO LAPTOPS. GET A TETANUS SHOT, AND A SHOT FOR HEPATITIS “A.” WHEN THE CLASS TAKES A BREAK, ONLY TWO OF THE 70-PEOPLE IN THIS CLASS ASK IF THEY CAN BE REASSIGNED TO OTHER WORK.

[TAPE: AMBIENCE OF CLASSROOM] JOHN DELANEY, A RETIRED CAR DEALER FROM ELIOT, MAINE WHO SITS IN THE FRONT ROW, SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THIS DISASTER MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

TAPE 2, JOHN DELANEY, ELIOT, MAINE 502 I think for a minute, if I sit back and I think about this rationally, I wouldn’t go. So, the thought is that, maybe this is a chance for me to make a difference. Maybe help. :12

THE RED CROSS GIVES VOLUNTEERS 24-HOURS NOTICE OF WHEN THEY’LL BE DEPLOYED. MOST WILL RECEIVE A THREE WEEK ASSIGNMENT, ALTHOUGH FOR THIS DISASTER, THE RED CROSS IS ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN ONLY GO FOR TWO WEEKS. THE AGENCY PROVIDES AIR FARE AND UP TO NINE-HUNDRED DOLLARS IN EXPENSES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VOLUNTEERS LINE UP TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATES. SUZY COLT, AN ATTORNEY FROM BEDFORD, SAYS THE TRAINING HAS BEEN EYE-OPENING.

TAPE 3, SUZY COLT, BEDFORD/BARRINGTON, CALLED THE TRAINING EYE-OPENING 394 having not experienced anything like this before, it gave me sort of an overview of what to expect. And to ask myself, is that something that I can handle. And the answer is yes, I’m ready to go. :17

AS FOR DEE BROWN, THE MOTHER OF TRIPLETS – SHE TOO, IS READY TO GO, ALTHOUGH SHE ADMITS TO BEING NERVOUS.

TAPE 1 DEE BROWN, 246 I’m nervous because I don’t know what to expect. You don’t know where you’re going. You don’t know what conditions you’re going to face there. /// There’s a lot of, just heartaches. And so I think a lot of it is just preparing myself emotionally for it. I’m kind of a softie when it comes to things, so, I have to find that inner strength to be able to work through that and to make sure I can make that difference, so, yeah, I’m scared. :20

FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I’M DOUG MACPHERSON.