Valerie Brault, 7, sat at the cafeteria table and pushed cloves into an orange to make a scented holiday decoration. Little Natalie Hicks, 1½, dressed up in a Red Cross disaster vest that hung well below her feet and shuffled with delight across the gym floor. Chris Brault from Amherst cradled his 2-month-old son, whose small mouth moved quickly between a smile and a pouting lower lip. Sue Ball from Allenstown sat in her wheelchair playing tug of war with her service dog, Ben.
These were some of many scenes the other week at American Red Cross emergency shelters as people found creative ways to make a normal life in school gyms, church halls and community recreation centers. They came to the shelters to escape their cold dark homes after losing power from the recent ice storm.
Basic cots lined the walls of the shelter spaces. Blankets, some with Red Cross logos, sleeping bags and pillows helped the cots look cozy. In the Exeter High School gym, Lincoln (2½) and Wyatt (3½) Moulding draped a blanket across two cots to make a fort, while their father, Scott, took a nap nearby.
Tracey Moulding talked about the decision to bring their family to the Exeter shelter. The power in their home went out on Thursday, Dec. 11, but they did not come to the shelter immediately.
“We tried to make a camping adventure from having no heat,” she said. “But after a few days, the cold temperatures were affecting the children.” When they arrived at the shelter, Wyatt was tearful, concerned that the shelter would not have adequate toys.
On Wednesday evening, Dec. 17, Susan Madison at the shelter in the Milford Elementary School was delighted to learn that power was restored to her Merrimack home, but she still stayed for dinner at the shelter before heading home. At first, Madison had been anxious and hesitant about coming to a shelter. Five days later, she left with names and phone numbers of new friends.
“I knew I needed help, but it was hard to ask for it,” she said. “I am overwhelmed by the goodness of the people here. Thank God for the Red Cross.”
Anxiety about homes, health, the holidays and a variety of other concerns affected several shelter residents. Mental health professionals have been available at many of the shelters. One elderly woman sat alone in front of a television, away from the other guests. A Red Cross volunteer went over, sat with her, and gently put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders.
The shelters are staffed 24 hours by trained Red Cross volunteers who welcome arrivals, help them find a place to get settled, provide food and offer comforting words. Because of the magnitude of the sheltering and feeding operation, Red Cross volunteers from other states came to New Hampshire to join and support the disaster teams from NH chapters. Forty volunteers from as far away as Texas and Alabama have donated their time and skills to help New Hampshire residents.
The New Hampshire Red Cross has worked with many state, municipal and community partners during this ice storm disaster. The Salvation Army was at the shelter in the Nashua High School South serving meals. The NH Army National Guard unloaded cases of bottled water and cartons of sleeping cots into the garage at the Granite Chapter in Concord.
The State’s Disaster Animal Response Team partnered with the Red Cross to operate a warm and safe holding area for pets at the Milford Elementary School separate from the shelter. The Red Cross does not allow animals other than service dogs in their shelters so they can assure a safe environment for everyone. But Red Cross volunteers will work with community partners to help families find a safe place for their pets.
One young family brought along their small tank of goldfish. In the middle of the night, a shelter volunteer noticed one of the fish wasn’t doing well and attempted what might be called fish CPR. The technique (not yet approved by the American Red Cross) involved blowing bubbles through a straw to aerate the water. It seems that Red Cross workers will do anything to meet the needs of the shelter guests.
New Hampshire families impacted by the recent ice storm need your help. The American Red Cross has been there to feed and comfort them and give them a warm place to sleep. Now the Red Cross needs your help.
Please make a financial donation to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. Your generosity will help thousands of New Hampshire residents displaced by this storm.
The disaster relief fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of this disaster, as well as those affected by so many other disasters across the country.
All Red Cross assistance is free to anyone touched by disaster, thanks to generous donations of time and money from the American public.
Please make a contribution today by calling (800) 464-6692, or on our secure online site at redcross.org.
Thank you!
Rebecca Field
American Red Cross
Concord Chapter
