Jamestown Red Cross Volunteer Headed For Rain Soaked Iowa
Sonora, CA — Sunday Red Cross Volunteer Gary Van Den Bergh received an e-mail asking if he could be on a Tuesday 1:30pm flight out of Sacramento to Des Moines, IA via Chicago.
His answer was in the affirmative. Once he arrives in Des Moines he will rent a car, make a phone call and receive an assignment. At this time he has no idea where he will be stationed, exactly what his assignment will be (he suspects it´ll be serving as a facilities manager for materials support) or how long he´ll be in the rain soakened Midwest. He´s estimating it may be three weeks.
Van Den Bergh has an extensive background in logistics and as a five year Red Cross volunteer, his badge designates him as a Disaster Services Human Relations (DSHR) specialist.
The Jamestown resident has provided disaster relief for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita respectively. Last year alone he assisted at the Angora (Lake Tahoe) and San Diego fires and followed that up with a stint during the massive flooding along the I-5 corridor in western Washington.
Written by Bill Johnson
