Steve Hatfield has been helping people after natural disasters as a Red Cross volunteer since 1994.
Currently deployed in Georgia assisting with recovery intake for tornado survivors, Hatfield goes out of state with the Red Cross to help with disasters an average of four times a year, in addition to his volunteering in Washington state.
According to Betsy Robertson, Red Cross communications director for the Northwest Region, Hatfield has become “one of our most reliable Red Cross volunteers, having supported some of this nation’s most severe natural disasters.”
“I see the good, I see the bad and I see the ugly,” Hatfield told The Chronicle.
During his nearly three decades with the Red Cross, Hatfield has responded to a variety of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and forest fires.
“Throw in a tornado or two,” Hatfield said.
According to Hatfield, every disaster is unique and requires a different response.
“Every disaster that I’ve been on has been a different routine in how we prepare for it,” he said. “The buzzword around the Red Cross is ‘be flexible.’”
Hatfield said volunteering with the Red Cross has brought him to many places around the country and introduced him to people from many different regions. While helping with the recovery after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Hatfield said he met volunteers from Canada and Israel who were helping out. He’s also been to Canada to help respond to forest fires.
According to Hatfield, the best thing for those wishing to volunteer with the Red Cross to do is go online to www.redcross.org and select the volunteer button.
“That can be the beginning,” he said.
Hatfield added those who see him in public can corner him to learn more about volunteering.
Hatfield also extended his gratitude to the local community for the support it gives to the Red Cross.
“A huge thank you, not only to our Centralia-Chehalis community but throughout for both donations and thoughts and prayers,” Hatfield said. “Just a big huge thank you to the community for their support.”
Hatfield added he hopes to see some new volunteers in the near future.
“That would be great,” he said. “We could really use a helping hand.”
Learn more about disaster relief volunteering at https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/disaster-volunteer.html
