July 16, 2013: This letter was sent to our office with the accompanying email: Director Mary Jo Kinzie, I thought you would appreciate receiving my Letter "A lesson in Humility" which was my reflection of my experience after spending two weeks in Moore as a Disaster Mental Health Worker with the Red Cross. I was there from 5/27/13 through 6/10/13 assigned to West Moore High School commuting from Norman daily. I believe it reflects the courage and humility of the many fine people I met in my work during that time. I thought you might share it with your Chapter as a way to recruit more workers. The letter was published in Maine and in Oklahoma in the Norman Transcript on 6/27/13 in "Volunteering in Moore" Opinion section. Several weeks again I sent the Letter to NASW National Chapter and shortly afterwards your article came out. It would be a good follow -up for your recruitment process. If I may be of any help please contact me at 207-882-7276 or email. It would be an honor to continue to work in Oklahoma. My best to your efforts to with these fine Oklahomans in their time of need. Dr. Jack Sarmanian Edgecomb, Maine A Lesson in Humility I came from Edgecomb, Maine as a Disaster Mental Health Worker for the Red Cross to help in the Oklahoma Tornadoes relief. Upon my arrival on May 27th 2013, the damage witnessed was more than one could have imagined. Miles and miles of devastation: homes, businesses, schools, and even a hospital, all destroyed or damaged beyond belief. Homes, cars, trucks and trees were left as piles of rubble and debris in every direction. My deployment began in Shawnee, OK as a team member going out in the community to help homeowners and citizens in their environment. Shortly thereafter, I was assigned to West Moore High School (WMHS) in Moore, OK. Moore is the community that was ambushed by the EF-5 tornado on May 20th, suffering major devastation. The High School became the Multiple Agency Resource Center (MARC). The MARC was one of four resources in Oklahoma helping people to recover and begin to heal from their losses. Losses included loved ones: Spouses, children, relatives, neighbors and pets. Losses also included homes, cars and possessions of all kind, ranging from sacred items to every belonging owned. While there, we experienced four more tornadoes from May 28th through May 31st . Volunteers were exposed to the threat of destruction and physical harm from winds over 200 miles, massive thunder and lightening plus 6 inches of rain which only served to hamper movement and created emotional crisis, anxiety and fear for volunteers and storm survivors alike. Our work at the MARC was the process to helping victims begin their recovery by assisting from the initial registration and progressing through exploration of the various resources at their disposal. On average 25 agencies provided services to these needy victims: Red Cross, FEMA, Catholic Charities, Southern Baptist Ministries, Salvation Army, Veteran Administration, Vet Centers, Oklahoma Housing Authority, local counseling agencies, food banks, shelters and local churches of all denominations. A formal process of assistance was established from identification of the person, validation of their losses, and then assignment of assistance. Tornado survivors received help from the various agencies. Agencies offered funds, temporary housing, food, clothing, medical services, prescriptions, legal services and the like. Throughout my time at WMHS approximately 500 victims were helped everyday by some 100 volunteers and paid staff from all the resources present. My role was to be a supportive mental health worker available to provide support, encouragement, grief counseling and healing for the trauma victim’s experienced. What was most amazing as I worked with these people, men, women, children of all ethnic backgrounds, faiths, cultures and beliefs, was that they thanked me “For being there from Maine to help us ”. What I experienced was a sense of humility, caring and love from people who suffered and lost everything including their children, relatives, loves ones, pets and possessions. They were spiritual, religious, giving people who demonstrated tolerance, stamina, strong resiliency and spirit for their survival through a belief system that was so needed. The tornado survivors treated me with the utmost respect and kindness whenever we talked or counseled over their issues, needs and future plans to recover including where to live, with the goal of returning to work and a sense of normalcy . Their goal was to take control and once again live their lives and reclaim the many roles they had to assume. In their time of need, these wonderful Oklahomans offered tremendous spirit, love, caring and humility. They were an example of resiliency, stamina and belief that was both inspirational and meaningful to this private individual and professional in midst of their environment. I went to Oklahoma as a Red Cross Volunteer and returned home having witnessing humility, caring and strength that I could not imagined. To these wonderful people of Oklahoma I owe tremendous thanks. In essence, they gave me hope and belief in people and an understanding of the “Oklahoma Standard” which made them strong and resourceful in their belief in people, caring, love and God. They make Oklahoma strong, viable and able to begin their recovery and healing. May we all learn from the humility and humanity witnessed and experienced in Moore. I pray this humility and humanity affects all of us throughout this wonderful country of ours. As a result of my Red Cross deployment, I grew as a person and came home with a” lesson in humility” as taught by these fine Oklahoma people to whom I am so indebted. Most Appreciative, Jack Sarmanian, EdD, LCSW Edgecomb, Maine
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:44:20 +0000
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