It's hard to believe one week has gone by so quickly. I have come quite fond of Columbus and the people that make it such a wonderful place. I know that they are going through a life altering experience but they have been graceful through the response. They have a long recovery a head of them but I know they will handle it with great professionalism and be a good example for all us to look to.
We went out to dinner last night and we had the great priviledge to hear stories of how people rescued one another from a "creek that became the ocean". Two young women told us how they evacuated the nursing home, caring those who could not walk to buses and driving them to safety. It was story after story of amazement and awe.
It may be my time to leave Columbus, but Columbus will always have a special place in my heart.
God Bless!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
June 16, 2008
I feel that we accomplished a lot yesterday. We were able to get most of the victim's needs registered into the database from the assessment that was done on Saturday. We began to catch up on the volunteer registrations and an every evolving process has contined to evolve. I have been highly impressed with the volunteer action center and their work they are doing for Columbus. I feel that they are on a good path to faciliate the long term recovery process. Theresa and I began our transition out yesterday and feel that we had a good impact on those that we have worked with here in Columbus.
Today, we are back in the 2-1-1 center helping where we need to help; preparing for our departure tomorrow.
Today, we are back in the 2-1-1 center helping where we need to help; preparing for our departure tomorrow.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
June 15th, 2008
We worked non stop yesterday in the Volunteer Resource Center. I finally made it to bed around 9:30 pm. We received the assessment forms back and began to enter them into a database so that we could match volunteers easily into regions. I was able to highlight those emergency cases so that we could provide instant information and referral or instant volunteers to those in urgent situations.
Today, looks like continuing to get these assessments into the database then finish with the volunteer database. This team is amazing and I will certainly miss the relationships we have formed when I leave.
We have been told to brace for one more storm today that could produce more severe weather.
Today, looks like continuing to get these assessments into the database then finish with the volunteer database. This team is amazing and I will certainly miss the relationships we have formed when I leave.
We have been told to brace for one more storm today that could produce more severe weather.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
June 14th, 2008
7:30 am We finally made it back to the hotel at 9:00 pm after being directed over to the volunteer reception center. Things are very busy in the center with people wanting to help. We are now starting to see the NVOAD groups arriving, which is a sure indicator of a national disaster well into it's way to recovery. We had one fun situation last night. We received a call around 6:00 pm to match 200-250 people for a meeting that will start at 9:00 am on Saturday. We were able to find almost 90 people in 3 hours, not bad. We will see what today brings.
Friday, June 13, 2008
June 13th, 2008
8:00 am We are here and working, things seem to have slowed down a bit. We are not sure where we will be stationed for this weekend.
10:00 am The staff has asked for another critical incident debriefing session. I will be holding that at 11:00 am.
1:00 pm The debriefing session went well. It is a night and day difference in the staff today. It is great to see how they are working together to do a fantastic job in utilizing volunteers, gathering resources and staying connected in the community.
No rain yet, however we have been placed in a flashflood warning. We shall see what happens, I truly hope it by passes Columbus. They need some time to breathe and begin recovery stages.
4:00 The rain has started here and I have finished my day with resources. I am heading over to work in the Volunteer Center for the weekend.
10:00 am The staff has asked for another critical incident debriefing session. I will be holding that at 11:00 am.
1:00 pm The debriefing session went well. It is a night and day difference in the staff today. It is great to see how they are working together to do a fantastic job in utilizing volunteers, gathering resources and staying connected in the community.
No rain yet, however we have been placed in a flashflood warning. We shall see what happens, I truly hope it by passes Columbus. They need some time to breathe and begin recovery stages.
4:00 The rain has started here and I have finished my day with resources. I am heading over to work in the Volunteer Center for the weekend.
June 12th, 2008
7:45 am Feeling rested or full of adrenaline (issue could be debated); we drove into Columbus to report for work. As we drove down the roads we saw many houses with piles of water logged personal items sitting along the curbsides. What a sad site.
The area’s hospital along with human services building has been evacuated and many people are calling to find out where to go for services. The Volunteer Reception Center is busy trying to align volunteers with those who need volunteers. Many of the farmers have been impacted by loosing cattle and fields.
10:30 am The call center is working very well in an organized and methodical way. The Columbus Call Center is a staff of 3 ½ employees and they are handling things very well. I feel the best help I have been is identifying that the staff needed a critical stress group debriefing. After going through the debriefing session and giving the staff needed support I feel that they were better equipped to deal with the stress of the flood response.
2:00 pm I have worked on pulling resources by monitoring the newspaper and email accounts. I have pulled the information and fed it into a staff person for verification. I tried to focus on the outlying counties in their region for them. They are changing their resource sheets every couple of hours, and posting them on their website. Theresa is working on the phones.
6:00 pm The Volunteer Center has fed us and we are heading back to the hotel. The call center in Columbus rolls their calls to Indianapolis over night and on the weekends. So far, the word has it that Indianapolis is managing the surge in calls just fine. We are not sure what the weekend will hold for Theresa and I, or if we will be needed.
10:00 pm The local news reports mild looting of people’s belongings in Columbus. They are also worried about the anticipated storm that is to hit us mid day tomorrow, after 2:00 pm. Through Saturday with another front on Sunday American Red Cross has set up their disaster case management and assessment of needs from the flood victims. FEMA is on their way.
The area’s hospital along with human services building has been evacuated and many people are calling to find out where to go for services. The Volunteer Reception Center is busy trying to align volunteers with those who need volunteers. Many of the farmers have been impacted by loosing cattle and fields.
10:30 am The call center is working very well in an organized and methodical way. The Columbus Call Center is a staff of 3 ½ employees and they are handling things very well. I feel the best help I have been is identifying that the staff needed a critical stress group debriefing. After going through the debriefing session and giving the staff needed support I feel that they were better equipped to deal with the stress of the flood response.
2:00 pm I have worked on pulling resources by monitoring the newspaper and email accounts. I have pulled the information and fed it into a staff person for verification. I tried to focus on the outlying counties in their region for them. They are changing their resource sheets every couple of hours, and posting them on their website. Theresa is working on the phones.
6:00 pm The Volunteer Center has fed us and we are heading back to the hotel. The call center in Columbus rolls their calls to Indianapolis over night and on the weekends. So far, the word has it that Indianapolis is managing the surge in calls just fine. We are not sure what the weekend will hold for Theresa and I, or if we will be needed.
10:00 pm The local news reports mild looting of people’s belongings in Columbus. They are also worried about the anticipated storm that is to hit us mid day tomorrow, after 2:00 pm. Through Saturday with another front on Sunday American Red Cross has set up their disaster case management and assessment of needs from the flood victims. FEMA is on their way.
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