I've been doing Disaster Response work in one way or another since Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in
1992.
A self-employed commercial artist working in Atlanta at the time, I watched day after day of coverage until
I just HAD to do SOMETHING.
I became affiliated with the American Red Cross as a volunteer in Disaster Services. The rest, as they say,
is history. I was with Red Cross for just over 10 years.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, I was sent to New Jersey to assist with the families hurt by the disaster.
That was an amazing experience. After I returned, I went to work for the Transportation Security Administration as they became
rolled in to the Department of Homeland Security. I stayed with them for 18 months, but never stopped painting murals and
doing other art.
When I left DHS I was hired as a Florida State Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) Member Reservist. That
was June, 2004. Little did I know what was just six weeks away!
I was soon to be on the road, covering over 9000 miles within the State for 4-1/2 months and worked all
four hurricanes that year as one of the State Managers for Federal Disaster Recovery Centers.
I love this work, and although I was called this year to assist with Katrina, personal plans for a trip
to California and my heavy workload precluded my involvement.
I will always stay involved.
