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Service from the heart: Local couple is Red Cross volunteers

Staff reporter

When Hurricane Katrina hit the South in August, Ralph and Phyllis Kreutziger of Marion wanted to do what many Americans wanted — respond and help those in need.

The couple made a trip to an American Red Cross office in September to deliver a donation and find out how they could volunteer to go south.

After completing the necessary paperwork, the Kreutzigers were contacted by the Sunflower Chapter which serves Marion and McPherson counties.

"We got a call from the director of the Sunflower Chapter who wanted to take us out for dinner," said Phyllis. "We wondered what they were wanting."

As it turned out, they were asked to consider being trained to be Marion County's disaster services human resources.

Previously, there was a DSHR for the county, but personal circumstances prevented him from providing services.

When a disaster occurs in Marion County, the county's emergency management director, Michele Abbott-Becker, will contact the pair to respond.

Assistance would be provided to the people affected by the crisis and emergency personnel — firefighters, law enforcement, etc.

The couple already has responded to its first call — a house fire in Peabody.

"We had just talked with Michele (Abbott-Becker) that day when we got a call that night," Phyllis said.

The Kreutzigers have completed several courses including introduction to disaster services, individual services, community services, emergency assistance to families, additional assistance to families, shelter operations, disaster action teams, and disaster assessment.

Training will continue to re-educate and update them as needed. They also plan to attend meetings to assist in updating a disaster plan for the two counties.

"We have heard comments from a number of people within the Red Cross organization that Marion County is one of the best-prepared counties in the surrounding area for emergencies and disasters," Ralph said.

All Red Cross services are provided free of charge to residents who experience a disaster. However, all assistance from the Red Cross is based on the premise that disaster clients ultimately are responsible for their own recovery.

The couple knows it's important to listen to individuals involved in a disaster. Each time they respond, a significant amount of paperwork is required. They also must follow disaster guidelines and policy statements, and comply with a code of conduct established by the Red Cross.

The response

When a disaster or crisis occurs, the Kreutzigers are notified by county dispatch. They have a Red Cross-issued cell phone with them at all times.

"We can respond anywhere in the county within 20 minutes," said Ralph, instead of 90 minutes or more if someone from McPherson County responded.

For that reason, they always have to be prepared.

"We carry the things we need to respond in our vehicle," Phyllis said, in case they get a call while away from home.

When the couple arrives on a scene, a quick assessment is made to determine the magnitude of the disaster. Immediate needs are addressed and provided to victims.

"We were very well received at the house fire in December in Peabody," said Phyllis. "People were glad to see us."

When response is given to a situation, the victims' immediate needs are addressed — shelter, food, clothing, and medications.

The volunteers have immediate access to blankets, adult and child "comfort kits" (toiletries), water, and stuffed bears for children.

If the situation warrants, a van with additional supplies can be dispersed from McPherson.

Vouchers can be dispersed to victims for lodging, food, and clothing, said Ralph.

The Red Cross often respond to fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters.

"We're here to help whomever needs it," Ralph said.

Even though disasters don't happen every day, committing to this volunteer position is no small obligation.

Besides being on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when DSHR members are asked to assist with a major disaster, it usually is a three-week commitment. And the Kreutzigers are ready.

With their training, they now are qualified to respond to the next national or international disaster.

Volunteers always are needed. The Sunflower Chapter provides training classes for those interested.

Contact the chapter office at (620) 241-2386, sunflower@arcks.org, or 1023 South Main Street, McPherson.

Ralph and Phyllis put themselves in the victims' shoes and treat them the way they would want to be treated.

"I think of the crisis as being at my house and how much it would mean to me to have someone help me," Phyllis said.

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