Morgan Hill
’s Linda Roma leaves today to deal with Katrina’s aftermath
On Friday, Morgan Hill resident Linda Roma was busy running errands in preparation for her departure today to the Gulf Coast region to assist the Red Cross in efforts to help residents of the area.
As she got a quick haircut, she talked about what she expected to see.
“I’m from northern Florida, and I’ve seen the kind of devastation a hurricane can bring firsthand, I’ve seen it with family members,” she said. “As a member of Morgan Hill’s Community Emergency Response Team, I thought I’d be rescuing Morgan Hill. But I’m happy to help. I know and see the need.”
In preparation for her trip, Roma said she had to update her shots, get a new tetanus and a hepatitis A and B, before she could go. She was also told to bring waterproof boots and shoes, hand sanitizing gel, in addition to the bare necessities.
Her emotional and mental preparations are a little more involved.
“I think a lot of what I will do will be lending an ear, just listening,” she said. “I can be pretty tough to begin with, I think I can handle the emotions. But I have also talked to Paul Studemeyer, my CERT trainer, who has experience with this, talked in-depth with my pastor, with my family and friends.”
Roma said her family is proud of her decision to go.
“They think it’s really great,” she said. “My husband is even thinking about going. He is a counselor for abused children, and I think the children are going to need a lot of help to recover from this.”
After flying to Houston, the Red Cross dispatch area, Roma will then be briefed with other volunteers before she is assigned a location for her two week deployment. She will not know until she gets to Houston where she is needed.
She’s not even sure exactly what she’ll be doing when she gets there.
“I’m trained in search and rescue, but that’s mostly over now,” Roma said. “I imagine I’ll be cooking mass quantities of food, or serving mass quantities of food. And of course, listening. That’s important, too.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
