Nashville Volunteer Humbled by Time Spent Serving Others in Need

Debra Alexander Fisher responding
to the March 3, 2020 tornadoes in
Nashville.

For more than a decade, Debra Fisher has been volunteering with the American Red Cross. Her first taste of disaster volunteering was after Hurricane Katrina. Today, she is still a disaster volunteer, and public affairs volunteer serving in Nashville, Tennessee following torrential rains and flooding in middle Tennessee.

A typical response day can be long, but Fisher doesn’t mind. She knows what she does is making a difference for those who are dealing with huge life challenges. “I traveled with the American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle this week that was equipped with cleaning kits and water for people affected by the floods in Davidson and Rutherford counties,” she said. “We arrived at sites in Franklin, Smyrna and South Nashville where all the residents of each location were very appreciative of our assistance. However, the most poignant moments were when we arrived at a location in South Nashville where the entire condominium complex had been flooded.”

Residents at the Harding Place Condominiums were dealing with flood debris, no heat, and not knowing whether they could stay in their homes or not following the storms. “The residents on site were sitting in their vehicles to keep warm when we arrived with meals from one of our community partners,” she said. “Not just being appreciative for meal; the look on their faces when they saw two vehicles, with the Red Cross on them was look of hope and help. Our organization being there seemed to give them a moment to breathe.” 

Fisher, who has seen her fair share of disaster responses, says she is always amazed at the little things that really take her a back when responding. “There was one little five-year-old boy who ran up to me and gave me a giant hug and smile when we arrived,” said Fisher. “Another young boy pulled his father toward the ERV and asked him what the words said. His father pointed to each letter on the side of the truck teaching him how to read “Red Cross” and then told him that when he sees it again it stands for good.”

Those are some of the reason hundreds of volunteers like Fisher step up when called during a disaster response with Red Cross. The face of a child, the look of relief on the face of a senior citizen who has all of her life possessions washed away in flood waters, the tears of a mother who can feed her children despite the power being off due to storms. “There is always one thing that is the same,” she added. “As we were about to leave, several of the residences thanked us profusely and waved us goodbye.” That is why Red Cross volunteers do what they do.  

This story is so like many other volunteers, our boots on the ground following a disaster. More than 500 Tennesseans had minor to complete loss of their homes during the flooding in Middle Tennessee.  The American Red Cross of Tennessee Region has served citizens in 19 counties since the storms began just one week ago.  

 

If you would like to help families who have survived this spring storm, please consider donating to the American Red Cross, so the mission of helping people when they need it the most can continue. Please click, text or call to donate. Your gift is a commitment to helping people affected by disasters big and small. Every single donation will make a difference in someone’s life. Visit redcross.org/Tennessee, call 1-800-HELP-NOW, or text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.