A small but mighty local Red Cross Disaster Action Team answers calls across seven counties, offering comfort and aid at all hours to help strangers through their darkest times.
As retirement approached for Jim Tudor, the former president of a nonprofit organization started reading books on finding fulfillment beyond the 9-to-5 phase of life.
“All the books said the same thing: Make sure you have a reason to get up in the morning,” he said. “Well, the Red Cross has fulfilled that for me. They gave me a reason to get up in the morning, a reason to get up at night and a reason to get up in the middle of the night.”
Though he laughs at the unpredictability of his hours, the 76-year-old has genuinely loved his 10 years of serving as supervisor of a Newton County-based American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT). Most people immediately think of blood drives when they see the organization’s familiar red-and-white logo, but it does so much more. As stated on its website, “The Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to people affected by disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families.” The nonprofit organization remains volunteer- and donation-driven, and Tudor was quick to point out that the Red Cross is always in need of new helpers who are willing to donate whatever time they have available.
“We have a great group of DAT volunteers here,” he said, “but we can use more.” Disaster Action Teams are the first responders of the Red Cross, arriving first on the scene to provide relief to people affected by various tragedies. “When people think of disasters, they think of tornadoes, floods and hurricanes,” Tudor said, “but when someone’s house burns down or a tree falls on their house, it’s a disaster for them.” He recalled an incident when his team encountered an unusual situation in Newton County. “We helped a gentleman in a wheelchair,” Tudor said. “A car had come speeding down the hill and crashed through his house.”
“They gave me a reason to get up in the morning, a reason to get up at night and a reason to get up in the middle of the night.”
Jim Tudor
Upon arrival at a scene, DAT volunteers do a damage assessment and determine the client’s immediate needs. They keep their Mobile Response Vehicle stocked with comfort kits, blankets, water, snacks and other personal care items, as well as cleanup kits and tarps.
“We start the process of recovery,” Tudor said. “We provide emergency assistance, typically monetary, based on our assessment, so that they can go to a safe place. It’s not long-term assistance but meeting their immediate needs.”
After the clients receive emergency assistance, the Red Cross continues to aid in the recovery process, providing referrals and resources for everything from furniture to finding new housing. The organization also has free counselors and support staff to help people talk through what they experienced, providing spiritual, mental and medical support.
Tudor’s DAT is not limited to serving people living within Newton County’s borders, even though it is headquartered at Newton County Fire Station 6. “We cover up to seven counties,” Tudor said. “We’re only a mile from Jasper and a mile and a half from Morgan. We go as far east as Greensboro, Athens and Milledgeville. Sometimes, we get help from other counties, like Henry.” The Red Cross has a goal for DATs to be on the scene within two hours of the call. “Most of the time, we’re well under that,” Tudor said, “and sometimes, the client doesn’t want to meet immediately, so we will arrange to meet them at their convenience.” He went on to explain that some clients may need time to regroup before knowing precisely what they need from the DAT, particularly when disaster strikes in the middle of the night.
The Newton-based team currently includes five volunteers: Tudor, Marzetta Dennis, Trashawn Mitchell-Stewart, Pat Nelson and Betty Turner. Four of the five are retired.
“It helps because we don’t have to be at work at six in the morning,” Tudor said, “but volunteers who work can say what hours they want to be available. Fires and storms don’t take holidays.”
The Red Cross strives to make volunteering as easy as possible. Self-paced training is held online, and Tudor revealed that trainees are invited to go on response calls as observers before they complete their training. “You can tell us what hours you can go,” he said. “It really helps you see the mission.” Tudor found that he prefers being available during the midnight-to-6 a.m. shift. “It’s harder to cover,” he said, “but so much easier to drive into Atlanta or wherever you need to go.” The DAT responds to an average of 10 to 15 calls per month, and the frequency rises in the winter when housefires are more common.
“Last year, we responded to 30 fires in Newton,” Tudor said. “When you add other counties, we responded to a total of 75 or so. We have great relationships with the local fire departments.” Fire department partnership is vital for another component of DAT service: fire prevention. “Last March, we did a free smoke alarm installation in over 90 homes,” Tudor said. “We installed 300 smoke alarms in conjunction with our partners and made over 200 people safer. The fire department chooses the area based on risk. The year before, we targeted mobile homes in Newton County because fires have been known to spread more quickly through manufactured homes. These alarms have a 10-year battery, which means a much higher probability that it will be there and still functioning, even if the homeowner changes.”
The team also provides fire education while there, encouraging people to think about how they would get out if their usual exit is blocked.
“You have to get your family together and make an exit plan that includes a safe place to meet outside,” Tudor said. “You only have about two minutes to get out of your home. Don’t stop to pick up your valuables or even to call 911. You want to get everyone outside, then call the fire department. You can’t go back inside the house. One of the saddest situations we face is when a pet is left behind in the house. Fires at night are very disorienting.”
Tudor also wants people to know they can contact the Red Cross directly.
“About 60% of our calls come from fire departments, and the others come from clients, landlords or neighbors,” he said. “Just call 800-RED-CROSS. We’re there to make sure that if you need help, regardless of the hour, someone is on the way.” Tudor recommends downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App to receive alerts for severe weather conditions in up to 40 personalized locations, locate open Red Cross shelters and more. “It follows you, to warn you about storms you may encounter,” he said, “and lets you keep an eye on relatives in other states.”
The service-minded retiree always looks for ways to help make people’s lives easier, whether it’s by sharing safety tips or showing up at a fire in the middle of the night.
“There’s a certain amount of pride you take in being able to be there when others need you,” Tudor said. “What we do is important because we can reach someone on one of the worst days of their life. We can’t change their circumstances, but we know when we leave the scene, they’re going to be in a better situation than when we got there.”
With only five DAT volunteers currently based in Newton County, a continual need exists for more volunteers to help others when a disaster strikes. For information, visit redcross.org/volunteer.
Click here to read more stories by Kari Apted.
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