A Concerned Mom Works as a Volunteer in Natural Disaster's Aftermath

by Jill Weinlein

Soon after hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in Louisiana, Americans were urged to donate money to the Red Cross. Ali Sagadencky, a Tarzana resident and mother of three, wanted to do more than just send a check or credit card number. After witnessing scenes on television of helpless people stranded on rooftops, masses crowded into the Superdome, and children with shock and terror in their eyes, she wanted to be there to help.

I met her at a cafe on a cold and dreary day to hear her story. She logged onto the Red Cross website hoping to volunteer, but found no information. After many calls, she reached the downtown Los Angeles Red Cross office, and attended a class later that week. She took notes on what to expect as a volunteer at a disaster; mass care, sheltering, hoards of mosquitoes, harsh smells, and unknown sleeping conditions.

Because time was of the essence, the class was an abridged, four-hour version of the normal weeklong training course. While completing "tons of forms," Sagadencky stressed her experience with children. She taught for thirteen years and was a principal for two years. She believes these skills and her persistence in calling the Red Cross daily resulted in her acceptance into the volunteer program.

While awaiting assignment, she called her family doctor who recommended Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Typhoid shots. At 4 pm she finally received her Red Cross identification number and instructions to fly out of LAX the following morning. With bags packed and goodbyes to family and friends, she tried to sleep. Shortly after midnight, a Red Cross representative called informing her that Continental Airlines had just filed for bankruptcy and cancelled all flights, so her assignment was postponed. Sagadencky insisted they find a flight on another airline. Thirty minutes later she was instructed to be at LAX in two hours for a Delta flight to Baton Rouge.

The trip took 20 hours due to long layovers. Waiting in Atlanta, she encountered a group of people discussing the Red Cross. She introduced herself as they boarded the same flight. These strangers became her new "family" for the next nine days. One was Joe, a grandfather from Indiana, another a 21-year-old from Santa Cruz. For a volunteer firefighter from Monterey, this was his third assignment. His most recent was in Thailand after the Tsunami.

Arriving in Baton Rouge, stifling heat and humidity were nearly unbearable as they drove to their first shelter in a recreation center. Most of the group was assigned to sheltering. That meant working in a staff or client shelter. Red Cross calls victims "clients", to lend an air of professionalism when dealing with people who have just experienced a disaster.

The staff shelter had no air conditioning, was out of food and water, and had only two toilets and no showers for 200 people. A sign on the front door warned "Don't go out after dusk, people have been mugged." She was nervous, but thankful she had bonded with her new "family". They slept near each other and shared personal stories of family, friends and loved ones.

The following day, after hearing about another shelter nearby that seemed better, they all showed up for work there. Located in a gym, behind a Baptist church, it had air conditioning, showers, toilets and a kitchen with plenty of food and water. The church parishioners took turns preparing meals and doing laundry for the volunteers.

After a shower and decent night's sleep, the "family" went to the Red Cross headquarters in Baton Rouge inside an abandoned Wal Mart. Americorp volunteers processed the Red Cross volunteers. The "family" begged to stay together. Joe from Indiana was assigned bulk distribution, which entailed driving a truck, loading and unloading supplies. Sagadencky immediately announced, "I want to drive a truck" and replied "yes" when asked if she had a CDL, thinking it was a California Drivers License, not a Commercial Drivers License. Shag drives her children in her Expedition and has driven a camp bus over the summer, so she felt capable of this task.

Daily the "family" rode together to an abandoned Piggly Wiggly store. Inside were pallets of water, food, and supplies. The group then drove from Walker in southern Louisiana down to Slidell. Threats of a new hurricane, Rita, hit the group. They noticed FEMA starting to pull out, but the Red Cross remained in force to help the clients.

Slidell was first hit with 145-miles-per-hour winds, a category 5 hurricane. Then an unexpected 27-foot tidal wave devastated the city. "It looked like a bomb went off and a giant trampled all over everything. Cars were under and atop houses, boats on the highways, and giant trees bent over to the ground," Sagadencky recalled.

The volunteers set up a distribution center in an empty shopping center parking lot, where a Verizon store had been destroyed. Verizon stationed a mobile unit in the parking lot and began rebuilding and helping the community. They distributed cell phones and recharged batteries.

Once the Red Cross arrived, people excitedly began lining up. As they opened the doors of trucks filled with pallets of items, the community offered to help unload. These were people who had little but a willingness to help others.

Check back next month for Part II of Ali Sagadencky's incredible account of her experiences as a Red Cross Volunteer during the Hurricane Katrina disaster.