3 years to the day

Three years ago today I started my journey with Hands On Disaster Response (HODR), at the time known as “Hands On USA (HOUSA)” during the organization's Katrina relief project in Mississippi. Three years later I have returned to the Gulf Coast to respond to another major hurricane.

On September 18, 2005, I left Massachusetts and flew south to see what I could do to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Rob and Helen, two veteran volunteers (having volunteered for several days), picked me up at the airport in Mississippi and brought me to the HOUSA headquarters on Pass Road in Biloxi.

Today I returned to the Gulf to see what not only I, but WE, Hands On Disaster Response, might do to help those affected by Hurricane Ike. This time around Aaron and Tiffany, two multi-project long-term veteran volunteers, picked me up at the airport and this time we are responsible for assessing and setting up a project if needed and possible.

Three years ago to the day that I started I headed into a new disaster zone to potentially create the project where the next volunteer will join our HODR family.

The opportunity to help and the HODR experience has grown by leaps and bounds over the past three years. We have had 9 projects around the world. We are in the midst of our largest project, Project Cedar Rapids, 1600+ volunteers in 88 days and counting, while we are assessing storm damage in both the southern US and in Haiti. We have grown to handle two simultaneous projects at one time (in Pisco, Peru and Rayenda, Bangladesh), and over the next few weeks it is possible that we could end up with three active projects at one time.

So much has changed since I first began hauling tree limbs in Mississippi on those sweltering hot days. One thing hasn’t changed though…whether you’ve been on the ground for two days or two months at a HODR project, you’re a veteran, and even those who only have a day to give are part of the HODR family. This veteran HODR volunteer, and now US Operations Director, is very thankful to all those who have made this last three years such a great experience. You have changed my life and together we’ve changed the lives of those we have helped. Thanks for showing up and digging in.

- Bill