{"id":3386,"date":"2022-11-15T11:12:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T16:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3386"},"modified":"2022-11-15T11:12:43","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T16:12:43","slug":"a-helping-hand-where-its-needed-most-local-red-cross-volunteer-assists-with-hurricane-ian-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3386","title":{"rendered":"A helping hand where it\u2019s needed most: Local Red Cross volunteer assists with Hurricane Ian recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kate Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Cazenovia resident Anne Saltman returned from Florida, where she worked with the American Red Cross on its hurricane recovery efforts.<\/p>\n

Saltman, a Red Cross volunteer, was recruited on Sept. 26 for a two-week deployment to Orlando in preparation for a massive hurricane expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida. With just 24 hours to pack and prepare, she set out to join a group of volunteers tasked with caring for an influx of homeless families at a Red Cross shelter. Saltman explained that she joined the Red Cross after researching the effects of climate change and deciding she wanted to help families impacted by strong storm events.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter several months of coursework and planning, this would be my first deployment,\u201d said Saltman, who was deployed as a mass care\/sheltering service associate. \u201cAs I packed my red and white Red Cross vest, I felt confident, well-prepared, eager to help, and proud to be associated with a well-respected humanitarian organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saltman described the Orlando airport as bustling with anxious families trying to leave before the storm\u2019s arrival and soldiers, electricians, road crews, and others headed into the area as first responders. All the hotels in the region were at full capacity, filled with families seeking safety. Many of the hotel employees, however, had left the city. As a result, her hotel had limited meal options that were served on paper plates with plastic utensils. Saltman recalled that the hotel halls were busy with anxious guests, many of whom had brought their dogs; one man arrived with five. To distract the hotel\u2019s younger guests, a large ballroom was made available as a play area.<\/p>\n

According to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa in southwestern Florida on Sept. 28 as \u201ca dangerous, high-end Category 4 storm after plowing a path of destruction through the Caribbean, bringing particularly heavy rainfall and dangerous surf to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba. After crossing over the Florida peninsula, where it had weakened to a tropical storm, it strengthened again over the water to a Category 1 hurricane and made a second landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hurricane hit the Orlando area with what Saltman described as a relentless howling wind, thunder, lightning, and pounding rain that continued throughout the day and night. Several hurricane, tornado, and flood alerts appeared on her phone.<\/p>\n

Her hotel was fortunately situated on high ground and relied on backup generators when the electricity flickered. Guests were advised to close their curtains and stay away from the windows while sheltering in place.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe storm\u2019s 150 mile per hour winds and 12- to 14-foot storm surge had destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and tossed boats like toys onto dry land,\u201d Saltman said. \u201cThe level of destruction was overwhelming, and thousands of people were now left homeless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Saltman said that once the weather had settled down, some hotel guests cautiously ventured outside, but they remained on lockdown until road crews removed uprooted trees and large piles of debris from the highways.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Red Cross hit the ground running,\u201d she said. \u201cOn Sept. 27, 1,600 people had sought refuge in 12 Red Cross and partner shelters as the hurricane approached landfall. By the following night, more than 33,000 people had sought refuge in approximately 260 evacuation shelters throughout the affected area. Most of the residents were elderly and many were dealing with health challenges. In the previous 24 hours, they had lost everything they owned \u2013 homes, vehicles, jobs, and even family members.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Oct. 1-4, Saltman worked with a team of volunteers at Red Cross shelters in Longwood and St. Cloud, Florida. From Oct. 5-10, she worked at the Hertz Arena in Fort Myers, one of the hardest-hit communities in Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n

At the Hertz Arena, Saltman teamed up with seven other Red Cross volunteers from across the country to register new arrivals and provide cots, blankets, clothing, hot meals, water, and comfort to over 500 people. Her team worked side-by-side with nurses, social workers, security personnel, and federal, state and county agency representatives. Also present at the arena were staff members from a nearby animal shelter, who provided round-the-clock care to dogs and cats. Local restaurants sent mobile kitchens that prepared thousands of hot meals each day, large vans arrived to provide hot showers and laundry services, and \u201ca steady stream\u201d of Fort Myers residents stopped by daily to deliver donated clothing.<\/p>\n

Other Red Cross teams distributed on-site emergency shovels and clean-up kits, conducted assessments of damaged homes, and provided mental health counseling and spiritual care to traumatized victims. Volunteers with medical backgrounds helped the injured and worked with the local drugstore to replace prescription medications, medical equipment, and wheelchairs that had been lost in the storm.<\/p>\n

Saltman described her experience of Category 4 Hurricane Ian as humbling and remarked that working long hours at the Red Cross shelter was both physically challenging and emotionally stressful.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I learned a lot about human nature and resilience and was extremely thankful for an opportunity to help with the recovery,\u201d she said. \u201cI remain forever grateful to the Red Cross and for my many blessings of family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a non-profit humanitarian organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of donors to deliver its mission. Volunteers make up 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce and help respond to an average of more than 60,000 disasters every year.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Red Cross hurricane recovery efforts, donations, and volunteer opportunities, visit redcross.org.<\/p>\n

Cazenovia resident Anne Saltman recently spent two weeks in Florida assisting the American Red Cross with its hurricane recovery efforts. Pictured: The Hertz Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.<\/p>\n

Other photos courtesy the Red Cross.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kate Hill Earlier this month, Cazenovia resident Anne Saltman returned from Florida, where she worked with the American Red Cross on its hurricane recovery efforts. Saltman, a Red Cross volunteer, was recruited on Sept. 26 for a two-week deployment to Orlando in preparation for a massive hurricane expected to make landfall on the west…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1325,1324,1317,990,1323],"class_list":["post-3386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-feature","tag-anne-saltman","tag-hurricane","tag-november-2022","tag-philanthropy","tag-red-cross"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/hurricane-color.jpg?fit=1800%2C1350&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2986,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2986","url_meta":{"origin":3386,"position":0},"title":"Meg Corey: The Heart Lady in Red","author":"Staff","date":"February 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"American Heart Association representative gets students exuberant about exercise By Jason Klaiber \u00a0 In her 13 years as youth marketing director for the American Heart Association, Meg Corey has never tired of putting on the same outfit every day, nor has she lost her fondness for jumping rope. Donning a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspire"","block_context":{"text":"Inspire","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1143"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG-2306-1-scaled.jpg?fit=912%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG-2306-1-scaled.jpg?fit=912%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG-2306-1-scaled.jpg?fit=912%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG-2306-1-scaled.jpg?fit=912%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2380,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2380","url_meta":{"origin":3386,"position":1},"title":"INSPIRE: Toni\u2019Lyn Brauchle","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"May 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"For two decades, the CanTeen in Cicero has been redefining family. \u201cAnybody who walks through that door, we\u2019ll have a relationship with, because they\u2019re family,\u201d said CanTeen Executive Director Toni\u2019Lyn Brauchle. \u201cOur job is to facilitate in connecting the dots to see how they have more in common with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2625,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2625","url_meta":{"origin":3386,"position":2},"title":"SPECIAL FEATURE: Supermodel Emme will be keynote speaker at Go Red for Women luncheon","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"October 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A familiar face will take the stage at the Go Red for Women Luncheon and Festival of Red later this month. Syracuse University graduate and supermodel Emme will be the keynote speaker for the event, which takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Nicholas\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Causes"","block_context":{"text":"Causes","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=104"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2983,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2983","url_meta":{"origin":3386,"position":3},"title":"A lesson learned – After nearly losing her life, Kristin Rubino becomes tireless advocate for heart health education","author":"Staff","date":"February 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Emma Vallelunga\u00a0 SYRACUSE \u2013 If Kristin Rubino didn\u2019t listen to her heart, she would not be alive today. Her passion for women\u2019s heart health awareness began with a life-threatening experience that allowed her to educate and relate to thousands of women as this year\u2019s Syracuse Go Red for Women\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cover Story"","block_context":{"text":"Cover Story","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=100"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Kristin-Rubino-Go-Red-For-Women-0006-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Kristin-Rubino-Go-Red-For-Women-0006-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Kristin-Rubino-Go-Red-For-Women-0006-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Kristin-Rubino-Go-Red-For-Women-0006-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2242,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2242","url_meta":{"origin":3386,"position":4},"title":"INSPIRE: Two heart surgeries won\u2019t keep Anne Proppe off the roads","author":"Staff","date":"February 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Matthew Gutierrez In her early 50s, Anne Proppe gained about 40 pounds. She had stopped exercising so she could focus her energies on raising three daughters in her Baldwinsville home. Her blood pressure rose.\u00a0 Anne tried exercise, getting her third-degree black belt in 2005 and running almost every day.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Anne-Proppe-0001.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Anne-Proppe-0001.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Anne-Proppe-0001.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Anne-Proppe-0001.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=298","url_meta":{"origin":3386,"position":5},"title":"Meg O’Connell","author":"Staff","date":"January 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Living with Heartfelt Intent By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson Every action taken by Allyn Foundation executive director Meg O\u2019Connell is intentional. In raising three daughters, now ages 20, 23 and 25, she made purposeful decisions to teach them healthy habits and lifestyles. In her decades working\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Meg-OConnell-0014.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Meg-OConnell-0014.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Meg-OConnell-0014.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Meg-OConnell-0014.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Meg-OConnell-0014.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3386"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3389,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3386\/revisions\/3389"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}