Mike Lyons

Reflecting on my experience as an AmeriCorps member for the Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross, I see this opportunity as an invaluable experience. The chapter gave me the flexibility and leeway to explore new areas of interest to me, create new programs, and challenge long-standing policies and procedures.

In the 10.5 months with the Chapter, I:

• Coordinated high and middle school youth group.
• Worked as a military and disaster caseworker.
• Helped bring a new fire safety program to Washtenaw County, teaching 2010
• students fire safety, while partnering with over 20 new agencies.
• Taught disaster and first aid safety information to an additional 3000 new
• students.
• Developed a comprehensive social media plan which included creating and centralizing the chapter’s AmeriCorps presence on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr.
• Worked with the Director of Public Affairs to create an AmeriCorps section on the chapter’s website.
• Created a comprehensive transition plan for new AmeriCorps members that included writing a detailed 65-page handbook with important program information.

Despite these accomplishments, I feel that my biggest and best work was intangible. The good feelings I received daily knowing that I was helping to prepare the community for disaster and was there when it struck were incredible. One experience in particular highlights that for me.

On October 22, 2008, I had served for the Red Cross for nearly two months. Up until then, I had taken trainings on disaster preparedness and heard stories from volunteers about local and national disaster responses which they volunteered for. I also learned of five local children who recently passed away because they hid in the back of a closet during a house fire. I knew disaster struck our community and, sometimes, it struck with devastating consequences. However, it was not until the afternoon on October 22nd that I really understood the devastation disaster causes.

At about 3:00 in the afternoon the chapter received a phone call from the Ann Arbor Fire Department, requesting canteen service from the Red Cross. The caller reported Like Village Apartment Complex was on fire and an unknown number of units were affected but firefighters from around the county were responding. I had just completed my Red Cross training and excitedly jumped into the response vehicle with two other volunteers.

As the first Red Cross volunteers on scene, we were instructed to get to the fire and assess the situation, then relay that information to more volunteers who would bring food and water to those affected. Nearing the complex, I could see black smoke in the sky and two news helicopters circling above. As we got closer, police cars blocked the streets to the complex and ladder trucks were pouring water on the three story buildings from high above. As I pulled the Red Cross vehicle up, police cars parted to let us through to the complex and directed us to part behind an Ann Arbor fire truck. People who had just run from the building were standing around the clubhouse some barefoot, some with pets, all devastated.

As I parked the vehicle and stepped out, I heard those on cell phones saying “The Red Cross is here, the Red Cross is here” with relief in their voices. As we walked past the clubhouse to meet with the Incident Commander, firefighters and first responders were thanking us for coming. When we met with the Incident Commander, he thanked us for coming and asked us to bring “whatever we had, anything would be appreciated”.

In that moment, the mission and the power of the Red Cross became real. For first responders and victims to thank us before we provided any assistance, I knew I had just became part of an internationally renowned organization with a reputation for providing exceptional assistance to victims of disaster.

In the hours that followed, six volunteers and I fed the clients and first responders. We then gave debit cards for food and clothing as well as short hotel stays for of those affected. In all, ten units were damaged and the Red Cross helped everyone who requested assistance.

That experience helped me to understand the power of disaster but more importantly the greater power of community and service to others. As volunteers, we had no “stake” in the fire, but together, with the first responders and residents, we helped alleviate human suffering. This experience is something I took with me in the subsequent eight months with the Red Cross. It drove me to carry out mission of the Red Cross and enhance the chapter as much as possible. Most importantly, it is an experience I will carry with me throughout my life.