Smiles, games and kitten sitting during flood response
Volunteers from the Invercargill Red Cross Disaster, Welfare and Support Team train weekly for deployment to places affected by disasters. L-R Kevin Whitney, Thomas Driver, Connie Reid, Gita Bhendari and Nigel Pau’u.
Kevin was one of the volunteers who were activated to support tourists and locals in Milford and Mataura during February’s floods.
“We initially spent the day in Te Anau, supporting staff and tourists being evacuated from Milford. We were mainly providing lots of cups of tea and coffee and support; just being there.”
“We initially spent the day in Te Anau, supporting staff and tourists being evacuated from Milford. We were mainly providing lots of cups of tea and coffee and support; just being there.”
The team had its trailer, which is loaded with everything anyone could need in an evacuation, even games. “It was really handy to have games and balls to entertain the kids on the basketball courts in the centre,” Kevin says.
Next, the team was redeployed to the Mataura Community Hub where they supported local people who had been evacuated and were returning home.
In Mataura the team’s role was slightly different. “We were filling out needs assessment forms with people, putting together care packages of food and blankets, and providing that emotional support.”
The trailer also came in handy at the local marae where the Red Cross team helped to set up for evacuees not able to return home. “The marae had enough mattresses, but we were able to provide pillows and blankets from our trailer.”
The team took the night shift at the community hub, and added to their already important responsibilities – looking after a rescued kitten. Despite all the volunteers willing to take it home, the kitten was very happy to be reunited with its 10-year-old owner the next day.
Red Cross volunteers also spent some time with the Farmy Army helping with the fence clearing during the clean-up, and making follow-up needs’ assessment calls from the Emergency Coordination Centre in Invercargill.
Kevin says the thing that has stuck with him from his experience is how the community stepped up and took care of each other. “The community support has really been excellent.”
