As a horrendous fire ravaged the Welcome Inn Hotel during the evening on Tuesday, July 6, Amy Sherrill and her Red Cross Disaster Action Team based in Taft responded as soon as the call was made. "I was ready for bed, I had my pajamas on, I was going to go to sleep, then the call came in and I was on an instant alert," the Team Leader in training said. "I was completely pumped up from adrenaline."
This was the first disaster the team was called to. With Ginger Hamner, Sherrill helped evacuees find places to stay. "There wasn't a whole lot we could do because we're still training," she said. "But it still felt good because the Fire Department was eager to have a Red Cross team here in Taft. The response time that the Taft team can give compared [to most] is really great."
Taft's Disaster Action Team has grown since Sherrill brought it to life only months ago. "There are different things that we can do here," she explained, "like getting our own shelter facility, our own supplies and disaster response vehicle."
Sherrill hopes more people will come out and join the team. "It's a really good feeling," she said. "Even though there are times when you go out and you can't do very much or anything at all really, it's just knowing that you're there and that you can offer help, even if it's just talking to someone."
The Red Cross and Taft's Disaster Action Team will be on site with information about what the organization does and volunteering at the Tumbleweed Days celebration held the weekend of July 31 in Derby Acres. Those who are interested can also contact Sherrill at 699-0772.