Cleveland, Tennessee Red Cross chapter needs more volunteers

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Five house fires in four days turned the lives of 19 people upside down.

That’s what volunteers with the Hiwassee Chapter of the American Red Cross had to deal with over Valentine’s Day weekend, and more volunteers are needed.

An upcoming training session is the place to start, Michele Hammonds, the chapter’s emergency service program manager, said Tuesday. The Hiwassee Chapter serves Bradley, Polk, Meigs and McMinn counties.

Hammonds said a disaster action team puts seasoned volunteers with those just starting. They can meet the victims at the scene, someplace neutral or the Red Cross office, she said.

“We usually talk with them to determine what they need,” Hammonds said. “We let them know we are there to help meet their needs. Sometimes they’ve lost everything. We had one little boy who got out [during a fire] without any shoes.”

Volunteers can point disaster victims in other directions, too, such as how to deal with insurance or getting important documents restored, Hammonds said.

The latest series of house fires began Friday in Bradley County, affecting four people. On Saturday, there were two fires, one in McMinn County affecting five people and one in Polk County disrupting the lives of three more. There were two more on Monday, affecting a family of three in Meigs County and a family of four in Cleveland.

New American Red Cross volunteer Victoria Ware helped at two of those fires. A registered nurse, Ware already knows about helping people through bad times.

“It was very disheartening to see how somebody’s home can be destroyed,” she said. “But it’s very rewarding when you can tell a difference from the time you walk into a situation and later as they talk with you. Even though they still face a lot of stress, you can see a difference in facial expressions.”

The American Red Cross has a volunteer position for just about anyone, Hammonds said.

Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.