Introduction
Katrina was the 11th storm of the Atlantic storm season, which got its name. It started June 1, 2005. New Orleans’ worst previous storm adversity happened 40 years ago when Hurricane Betsy came to the Gulf Coast.
It stays unclear how many the hurricane killed but is more obscure how many stayed homeless, as documents of most people had been lost. After I had seen those homeless I instantly felt that something changed in me. Homelessness had never impressed me so much before. I just felt that it is not their fault, and they did not deserve to suffer. It may be difficult to explain, but sometimes people feel pity for others.
Main body
It happened when our tennis team had to stay in Houston after the contest in El Paso. We had to wait as the flight had been delayed. Those hurricane refugees, wandering along the city impressed everyone from our team. But no one made any conclusions except me. I have decided to devote some time to the Red Cross as a volunteer after graduating college. This decision was definitely crucial for my further life: I have decided to become a doctor to help suffering people. And I definitely know, that if I fail – I will become an expert in the financial sphere. Anyway, I will devote my time to Red Cross: either being a doctor and curing people or making charity being a businessman.
Actually, the dramatic effect was added by the fact, that our team was placed second in the contest after a hard victory. We all were happy and had wings, but the picture of really miserable people acted like a hammer for our heads: when someone discusses the rumors about the opposing teams, the unjust judge, and so on, some even can not get enough food and have to hide from the rain in the airport building.
For the whole way home I could not get those homeless out of my head. I can not tell that I am very impressive, but the horror of the situation had impressed me deeply. I had never imagined before, that natural disasters can have such drastic consequences. And if such catastrophes happen all over the world, there must be someone or something that will be able to help.
According to the official statistics, approximately 1.2 million people work as volunteers for the Red Cross all over the world. It is known, that its aim is to help those who suffer most. Every day, the American Red Cross helps people in emergencies. whether it is half a million disaster victims or one sick child who needs blood.
Its work is made probable by people like me, people who offer a helping hand. Red Cross volunteers come from all over the world. They are of all ages: young people, nurses, seniors. Everyone has something particular to offer. Some volunteers help with the only event, some Red Cross volunteers have been included for over eighty years offering community services, arrangement, supplying blood drives, and assisting to prevent, prepare for, and retort to emergencies. All of us like the work, as helping people is noble, especially if they really need help.
Significance
As for the issues of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance for, me, I’d like to mention, that it is significant for me because it is significant for most of the world. As a sportsman I know what is working in a team: it is the easiest, and simultaneously the most complex because you are not alone, but on the other side you can not care just about your own success. A red cross is an exceptional team activity, and it is a perfectly arranged mechanism for rescuing people.
It does not matter whether it is a local, regional or international concern: it is aimed to save humanity. Red Cross is always there for people in need, offering release in times of crisis and care for the most susceptible all over the world. The image of homeless people impacted my mind significantly. I have never thought over the matter of helping the people in need being a volunteer, but that occasion in Houston tx made me realize, that those people really did not deserve suffering, and it is necessary to make them feel at home, even if they are homeless, as our planet needs to be the home for everyone.
In times of warfare or natural disaster, our volunteers are dedicated to putting our humanitarian estimations to work, providing practical aid and support at any time of the day or night independently of sex, race religion, etc.