The Fayette Citizen-Weekend Page
Wednesday, October 28, 1998
Disaster brings out best

Hurricane Georges may be long gone but its impact is still being felt. The American Red Cross has now classified the storm as the costliest effort in its 117 year history.

A Fayette County resident, Barry Sullivan, recently returned from a three week assignment in Pensacola, Fla., where he was part of the Hurricane Georges' Red Cross disaster relief mission. Although this was Sullivan's first national assignment, according to a Red Cross spokesman, he was used like an old pro when he was asked to open a shelter before the storm hit the city.

Sullivan called the mission exciting and "very rewarding." His shelter housed more than 100 people, mostly Navy personnel from the nearby Pensacola Naval Air Station. He said the military members made his work easy because they all chipped in to get things done and were very supportive. "Everyone worked together," he said," and before it was over we were all like one family."

Sullivan explained that there were some frightening moments when the rain was coming down almost horizontally in torrential buckets, the howling wind blew the shelter doors open and the power went out. "I've never seen anything like that," he said.

Besides operating the shelter, the Tyrone resident visited many storm victims in their damaged homes to evaluate their loss and to provide Red Cross assistance. "It was very rewarding," he said," to provide help for people who were truly in need." Sullivan was able to help in many ways including writing vouchers for new clothing, food and temporary housing.

It is estimated that Hurricane Georges will cost the Red Cross more than $104 million. This outdistances the previous most expensive relief operation Hurricane Andrew in 1992 which totaled $81.5 million. Elizabeth Dole, president of the American Red Cross, recently announced a $50 million campaign designed to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund that has been all but depleted since the hurricane cut a devastating swath of destruction from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Louisiana.

Sullivan, a retiree, has been a Red cross volunteer and serves as a member of the South Metro Service Center's Disaster Action Team which responds to local disasters such as fires, tornadoes and floods. He also responded to the Dunwoody tornadoes this past spring.

The Fayette Countian said he enjoys his Red Cross volunteer service and encourages other citizens to give it a try. "You can't imagine how rewarding it is to help people who desperately need it," he said.

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