Volunteer Answers Disaster Calls for 30 Years Strong

For 30 years, Susie Johnson has been the person who shows up when everything falls apart.

As a Disaster Action Team volunteer with the American Red Cross in Orange County, she's one of thousands who answer calls 24/7 to help families facing home fires, floods, and other local emergencies. This year marks the 60th anniversary of these special teams that provide immediate relief when disaster strikes close to home.

Susie joined at 43, inspired by her grandmother who taught her the value of service. "I saw how they are committed to serving people respective of our differences," she said about choosing the Red Cross.

Her role evolved from volunteer to supervisor in 1995. Now she coordinates with fire departments on scene, guides newer volunteers, and makes sure every displaced family gets blankets, food, temporary shelter, and a listening ear.

The job has changed dramatically since her early days. Back then, volunteers carried paper forms, change for payphones, and physical maps to find their way to disasters in the middle of the night. Today they use laptops and cellphones, but the core mission remains the same.

One memory still stands out after three decades. Her very first call took her to an apartment fire in her hometown of Garden Grove at night. Fire trucks filled the streets, displaced residents gathered in confusion, and someone's lost dog wandered the scene.

"I was so nervous," Susie recalled. But the team supervisor calmly outlined the plan, and they got to work. Her first interview was with a young couple who had lost everything. They were overwhelmed but grateful the Red Cross showed up. "That was my first DAT hug," she said. "I still think of those families when I drive by that complex all these years later."

Sunny's Take

What keeps Susie answering calls after 30 years? It's knowing she's helping people on possibly the worst day of their lives. Many families don't even realize the Red Cross runs on volunteers until they meet someone like Susie in their moment of crisis. Her advice to fellow volunteers stays simple: never forget why you serve.

Her three decades of service prove that showing up consistently, year after year, can touch thousands of lives in their darkest moments.