My Story: Deploying to help after Hurricane Milton

Written by Amy Miller, Communications Manager for the American Red Cross Kentucky Region

What got you involved with the Red Cross?

Amy outside the Red Cross
Tampa Bay Regional Headquarters,
Tampa, FL

I learned about the Red Cross in 2015 when I was looking for opportunities to expand my skills after I graduated from college. I started out writing volunteer profiles and monitoring social media as a public affairs volunteer with the Louisville Area Chapter, my local chapter. I’ve been with the Red Cross ever since, and recently became the Communications Manager for the Kentucky Region. In the 9 years I’ve been with the Red Cross, I’ve helped with our Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation events, visited blood drives to talk to donors and traveled across the state for tornado, severe weather and flood responses. My first disaster relief operation was the response to the 2018 flooding that impacted communities along the Ohio River. More recently, I deployed to Franklin, Kentucky to support the 2021 December tornado response, and Lexington, Kentucky to help after flooding impacted Eastern Kentucky in 2022. This October, I had the opportunity to help communities in Florida that were impacted by Hurricane Milton on my first national disaster relief operation.

What’s deployment to a disaster relief operation like?

I think most people think of sheltering or feeding when they think of deployment, which are vital roles during a disaster relief operation, but there are a lot of other ways you can volunteer, too! When I deploy, I deploy as part of our Red Cross public affairs team. The public affairs team, in a nutshell, tells the story of the Red Cross and the communities the Red Cross is helping. This can mean doing interviews with the media to share information about how the Red Cross is responding. It can also mean going out to shelters, distribution sites and other events in disaster-impacted communities. We take photos of the work Red Crossers are doing, get quotes from the partners we work alongside, and help share the stories of the people we’re helping.

Tampa, FL. Photo credit: Sivani Babu, 
American Red Cross Central California Region

Deployments last for at least two weeks. When I went to Florida for Hurricane Milton, I stayed at a hotel near Tampa for a few days and then spent the rest of my time there in a staff shelter. I was paired with another public affairs volunteer, and we were partners for the whole deployment. We would take turns driving to our assignments, taking photos and asking questions during the day. When we returned to our lodging at night, we’d sort through the day’s photos, write up stories and captions and make plans for the next day’s activities. Wherever there were Red Crossers at work is where we’d be to help share their stories and get information out to the community.

I’ve had a lot of people ask me what I pack when I deploy. I’ve taken to telling them a sense of humor and a lot of flexibility. Disaster relief operations are constantly adapting and changing to meet the needs of the community. One day my partner and I would be working with a volunteer team passing out lunches and supplies at a community center in Tampa. The next, we’d be three hours away in Vero Beach following an emergency response vehicle as it traveled through tornado-devastated neighborhoods to serve hot meals to the community. You have to be flexible to be able to better help the people we serve!

The humor comes in handy on long car rides and after long days. Being able to go back to the staff shelter and share stories with people who come from all over the country to help was an amazing way to end each day.

What’s the difference between deploying nationally and deploying at home?

Hurricane debris near Horseshoe Beach, FL.

The biggest difference I noticed when I deployed for Hurricane Milton was being able to fully immerse myself in the disaster response. When you respond to a disaster in your own backyard, you may be impacted yourself or know people who were affected. When I was in Florida, I kept in touch with people back home, but my only focus was on the community in Florida and how I could help. It gave me a better appreciation of the volunteers who leave their families and put their own lives on hold for two weeks to lend a hand during disasters across the country.

Is there a moment from deploying that stands out to you?

It’s hard to pick the most memorable moment from my Hurricane Milton deployment because every day was something new. Early in the deployment, I remember my partner and I sitting down at the end of a long day on the road with the congregation of a church the volunteers we’d been following had delivered meals to. The residents there had only recently gotten power back to their neighborhood and had lost all the food in their refrigerators, but they’d invited us to stay and have dinner with them.

One of the most impactful experiences came on our last day of deployment. My partner and I got a tour of a beautiful small town on the Gulf of Mexico about three hours north of Tampa, on the back of a golf cart. Every single building had been damaged by hurricanes and flooding. The resident who gave us the tour had been working with the Red Cross long-term recovery team since Hurricane Idalia destroyed her home in 2023, and the Red Cross was continuing to support her through the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. She shared with us that when things settled in her life, she wanted to become a Red Cross volunteer and help others the way the Red Cross had helped her.

Pinellas Park, FL. Photo credit: Sivani Babu, 
American Red Cross Central California Region

Sprinkled in between were the intensely human interactions that reminded me of how important the Red Cross mission to end human suffering is: Being able to talk to people working in businesses in Tampa and lending an ear and a shoulder when they shared how their homes and loved ones had been impacted by the hurricanes; laughing with people from an impacted community who had stopped their truck to check on me, because I’d gotten out of the car to help a turtle cross the road; working alongside local Red Cross volunteers who had been supporting their neighbors since the beginning of hurricane season, while navigating their own hurricane clean up.

Every day, I spoke with someone who had been impacted by the hurricanes or who had been helped by the Red Cross. It was a humbling and rewarding experience.

The mission of the Red Cross would not be possible without our volunteers and donors. Our volunteers are on the ground, supporting people as they recover from what can be the worst moments of their lives. Our donors make the Red Cross mission possible. Their support allows Red Crossers like me to deploy to disasters like Hurricane Milton to support communities in times of need. You can learn more about supporting the mission of the Red Cross by visiting redcross.org/gift.

Renee Biggs on 10 Years of Growth

Renee Biggs is inspired by the female leadership at Red Cross, and she wants young girls to feel emboldened. “You see a little girl and say, ‘you’re so pretty.’ But it should really be, ‘you are so pretty and so smart.’ We should change that. Because there’s nothing that can stop women,” said Renee. She will be celebrating 10 years with us in April.

Renee began her healthcare career in nursing and wanted a change. She loved patient care but wanted a different approach. “I met Dorothy Armstrong, who still works here. She would tell me how much she loved her job at Red Cross and encouraged me to apply,” said Renee. She started out as a charge nurse within the collections department and was soon promoted to team supervisor.

The opportunities kept coming for Renee, as she transitioned into our donor recruitment department. She managed a territory of blood drives for 2 years. While researching ways to grow in recruitment, she saw the opening for the collections manager. She went for it- and has been our region collections manager for over 5 years.

“I wanted a leadership role. I love people,” said Renee. “I have a good mentor in Chris Baker. I couldn’t imagine anyone better at stewardship for the company. He taught me everything- how to be a good collection manager and how he views people. How to be a good people manager.”

Since stepping into her leadership role, Renee has developed a team culture of respect, accountability and problem solving. “You must have the ability to meet people where they are… Change is such a big thing at Red Cross. Help people buy into it- into the why and the how,” she said. The biomedical department is going on 21 months of exceeding goal- and it’s because of the team support.

Renee truly loves her job and the people she has met. “I tell every person that comes into the door what a great opportunity this is. For me, this has been my career. Anybody that comes in can move up and within the organization. It takes internal and external customer service and display those 5 C’s,” she said. Our 5 C’s are compassionate, collaborative, creative, credible and committed.

She’s most proud of her team and how they continue to rise to meet challenges. Renee has committed to learning how to be a motivating leader. “That’s the key quality- being able to see everyone for who they are. Being seen is very important… Everyone is different. That’s diversity. But that’s what makes us great,” said Renee.

In her free time, Renee can be found with her family. She has been married to Jay for 17 years and they have 4 children and 2 grandchildren. They are active members of their church and recently went on a mission trip to Scotland. Their dog, Luna, is the house princess and “spoiled.” #WomensHistoryMonth

My Red Cross Story: Debbie Ranier

Debbie Ranier started her journey with the Red Cross as a volunteer in 2013. “I held a seat on the board of directors, was a member of the board recruitment and development committee and was also a community volunteer leader.” She is now our Executive Director for the Eastern Kentucky Chapter. “I was a volunteer for four years before interviewing for the position in November 2017. I have now been on staff for six and a half years and love everything about the position.”

“Knowing in some small way I am providing hope to folks in their darkest hour is the most rewarding part of my job. Also, working with volunteers who give so much of themselves every day to ensure people’s lives are a little easier following a disaster.”

One of Debbie’s favorite memories was giving blood alongside a volunteer who had never given before and was a little anxious. “It was rewarding being able to comfort the volunteer and see them so humbled and honored following their donation.”

Debbie chose to become involved with the Red Cross because of the impact the brand and mission have as being one of the most iconic and historical nonprofits. “When I was growing up, I experienced bad flooding in my county and the Red Cross was there, certainly left an impression on me. So, when I was in a place I could give back I reached out.” Debbie is proud to be involved with the Red Cross and its mission and sees how much work is done for families every day who lose everything to fire or other disasters.

Debbie’s passion to ensure people are having their needs met following a disaster is evident with her servant’s heart. She strives to keep personal and professional goals at the forefront. “A personal goal is I am a Christian and my faith in Jesus is very important to me. I am on a journey to learn how to pray more effectively and take better care of myself/health. A professional goal is to always try to get “inside” the mission as much as possible to remind myself why and how important my job is and to continue to strive to develop a strong board of directors and find new volunteers and donors daily.”

Outside of work Debbie enjoys to workout, hike, read and travel. A fun fact about Debbie is her birthday is July 4th and her initials are DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), which she says was not planned. We are grateful to people like Debbie who embodies the values and mission of the Red Cross. #WomensHistoryMonth

Nikki Salladay Talks Strong Women, Leaning into Ministry

Standing in your truth and who you are takes courage and emotional intelligence. No one knows this better than Nikki Salladay, our Regional Disaster Officer. “I have been called intimidating. There are often situations where I think if a male spoke in the same way, it would be called direct. But I’m intimidating,” said Nikki. “I’ve been in situations where I could allow myself to be silent, but I don’t. I choose not to. It’s not who I am. I show up as myself, and if you like me- great. If you don’t- as long as we can get stuff done, I’m okay. I think most of us hope we are liked and appreciated, but at the end of the day, it’s more about serving our communities than it is about ‘do you like me.”

Nikki comes from a family of helpers, with most of them going into the medical field. She found her passion in ministry when she was 16 years old. Nikki ran the Red Cross club at Butler High School in Louisville and worked in churches most of her life, helping with community outreach and youth programs. Nikki received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Southeast and a master’s in Christian Education from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She coordinated the Red Cross blood drives at her church every 56 days.

Nikki became a Disaster Program Manager (DPM) after moving to Michigan. “Take a passion, take an ability to be relatively calm under pressure, see the world like a puzzle, while also taking the years I’ve managed volunteers and combine those together,” she said. “There’s so much that comes into this for my faith… A background of compassion, forgiveness, and washing one another’s feet. The servant mentality coincides perfectly.”

Moving back to Kentucky 4 years ago, Nikki became our Senior DPM and promptly transitioned into her current role. It wasn’t just a new job, volunteers, and staff to get to know. “Within those years we had multiple natural disasters that devastated the state,” said Nikki. “You experience every heightened emotion during a disaster. Sometimes it’s just about holding on and doing the best you can. Find pockets of hope.” 

She is proud she can boost the voices of female leaders. “I love the Red Cross for that reason, because there are a lot of women in leadership. Looking at our division disaster executives- 4 out of the 6 are women. We work so hard to involve all genders and lean into diversity,” said Nikki. The field of emergency management is still heavily male dominant, however. “That has been an interesting world to navigate. I had 12 counties, only two of them had female emergency managers. 98% of fire chiefs are males.”

“I’m most proud of the people around me. Whether it’s staff or a volunteer. When people feel confident to step into their own. When they feel like they have done a good job. When I’ve been a part of developing and encouraging them,” said Nikki.

Nikki has been married to Adam for 16 years. Their hobbies include hosting game nights with friends, going hiking, and spending time with their fur baby, Mira. #WomensHistoryMonth

Pam Greer-Ullrich on Soul-Searching and Women in the Workplace

Raise your hand if you remember the times when workplace dress codes meant women couldn’t wear pant suits. Pam Greer-Ullrich has experienced the evolution of women empowerment in the office. “When I worked at Norton Healthcare, it wasn’t until 1992 that I could wear slacks. You wore a dress or dress skirt, with panty hose,” she said. The changes didn’t stop there. “The language has changed. Things are more gender neutral. Everyone became actors instead of saying actress for women. It’s been amazing to see,” said Pam.

Pam received a diploma in medical assisting at Spencerian College early in her career. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Louisville (UofL) and Master of Arts in Business at Webster University. She worked for a pediatric surgeon at UofL and eventually moved over to Norton Healthcare. She quickly found a love for communications when she moved into the public relations department at Norton and met Charlotte Tharp.

Charlotte was one of Pam’s mentors- and a woman she hopes to emulate to this day. “She taught me hard work and to continue the learning process. She was also someone that made me realize that it was okay if I chose not to have children,” said Pam. She has a stepson with her husband, Mark, but chose not to birth children. 

She went on to reflect on the societal stigma that all women should have kids, saying, “Some circles that you are in, the women look at you funny if you say you chose not to have kids. I’ve always admired women who have children, and I would hope that they gave me the same respect. I love children… That just wasn’t my future, there were other things I wanted.”

Pam was at Norton for 19 years and loved it. When the 2009 recession dismantled many families, she found herself unemployed and questioning her ability. “It was a tough time,” she said. “I had to go back to what I was interested in. Several things interest me in life- healthcare and faith being two of them.” Pam moved into a career with the Presbyterian Foundation managing external relations.

In 2019, Pam joined our team as an Account Manager within biomedical services. “I thought to myself, what better way to get back into healthcare? I started donating blood again. I’ve given 21 units since 2019,” she said. Pam gives back by managing community relationships and ensuring patients in the hospital receive the blood they need. She’s been awarded with the President’s Club in 2020 and 2023 for outstanding collaboration and community service.

It's been full circle for Pam, as she now works with UofL and Norton to host blood drives. She is hoping to retire in the next few years and wants her career to reflect one of compassion and care. “I want to always love like my mother did. She was a strong-willed person,” said Pam. She hopes that the future is bright for young aspiring women, saying, “I still look for the day when we have a female president. I hope to see that in my lifetime.”

Pam loves being around the college kids at UofL and speaking with them. “Being able to be around the young people makes a difference. It helps keep your mind going. You must listen to them,” she said. She’s proud of her work at Red Cross. “I learned that there are other organizations that take blood donations. But we are the only ones who also service the military and help in other ways. My father was in the Airforce. My husband was in the Army. That assistance is pivotal. And they are there when the house is on fire. For me, they are still the only place that I would ever donate blood.” Pam has been married to Mark for 36 years and loves to shop, sit on her patio, attend UofL games with friends, and spend time with her dog, Chloe.

Leading with compassion: Sara VonAllmen

Sara VonAllmen

There’s something to be said for empowered women in the workplace. Sara VonAllmen learned this when she joined our team over 4 years ago. “The person I was reporting to was female, her boss was female and [the person] above her was female. Also, the board chair was female. That was something I had never seen before. It was my first opportunity to be exposed to women in leadership and what that could look like,” Sara said. Being in the room with these women and part of the conversations clicked for her. It felt right.

Sara started her career in the restaurant industry when she was 15 years old. She attended the University of Louisville and received a degree in Business Management. From there, she became a consultant with Subway restaurants. “I would go into restaurants and advise them. I would tell them what would be good for their financial success and how to manage products,” said Sara. She did that for 6 years and then became a General Manager for 3 Subway locations. At that time, she thought her future pointed towards purchasing and owning a restaurant. However, the demands of the role gave Sara little work life balance.

That’s when she started her career with us as executive coordinator and assistant to the Red Cross Kentucky Region CEO. “Everything they told me in the job interview has been true to their word. I’ve been able to leave the office and not take work with me. I’ve been able to be more present for my family. It’s good because of supportive people like Steve Cunanan and Jennifer Adrio,” said Sara. Steve is our current region CEO and Jennifer was his predecessor.

We talked with Sara about the “unseen” work of assistants. We all know those individuals who go beyond their job descriptions and lend a hand. Sara explained that assistants are event planners: “We have to think through every detail of both on-site and off-site meetings/events to ensure our attendees will have a positive, engaging experience and they walk away with something meaningful.”

Sara and her family

Assistants are “I.T.”- troubleshooting the technology at events. Assistants are advisors. “I have been used as a sounding board. The leadership team wants to ensure they are sending out information that will be well received... The better listener you are, the better you can help close the gaps,” said Sara.

Sara is “A department of one,” so she is an invaluable asset to the team with a wealth of knowledge. Assistants are creators and self-sufficient- they find ways to make meetings fun and thoughtful. She laughs when talking about people explaining her role, saying, “People don’t know how to introduce me. They say: This is Sara- she does a lot of things!”

You might have already guessed Sara has been a trailblazer for initiating programs. She created the hands-only CPR initiative in Kentucky. “In 4 months, we trained 550 people across the state. 90% of that is youth. The South Central Kentucky (SCKY) chapter has taught the program in different languages and represented 15 different nationalities,” said Sara.

Sara was selected as a Serving Leader facilitator for our division. “For me, Serving Leader is about taking what I value for myself and bringing that opportunity back. It’s important I feel valued. It’s important when I show up, I feel supported... How can I give my coworkers the tools to be a little introspective? How can things look differently?” Sara reflected. She dedicated over 100 hours of training to become an instructor.

Sara with her dad and daughter

She is our staff lead for our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Sara sends out staff newsletters with thought provoking narratives. “It was a way to send something to our staff that wasn’t asking them to do something. I wanted to give them a chance to escape work and think about something different,” she said. Sara is most proud of her growth in her personal and professional life due to her work with DEI.

Sara’s dad passed unexpectedly last year. Through DEI, she has connected with coworkers on a deeper level while managing her grief. “I am not a person who knows the experience of everyone, I only know my own. But I’ve worked hard to show people there’s so many differences between all of us. Let’s take a pause and recognize that and use the information in how we speak to ourselves and how we speak to coworkers,” she said. Sara has been able to show our staff that diversity is more than religion, the color of your skin, and where you were born.

Sara is married to Brian, and they have 3 kids: Asher, Emily, and Avery. She is a homebody and enjoys being with her family at home. She also loves to bake and has a side business making macarons.

A batch of Sara's homemade macarons

Shelia Allen Celebrates 20 Years with the American Red Cross

Shelia Allen is celebrating 20 years with the American Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter on February 16, 2020. Shelia’s passion for the Red Cross and its mission goes back to her childhood living along the Gulf Coast. In an area often impacted by tornadoes, flooding and hurricanes, the Red Cross has always been present in delivering hope and comfort to the communities she’s called home.

Shelia has served as a staple with the American Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter through many changes and transitions over the years. She has met many volunteers, seen disasters that impacted one to thousands, and communities that always come together to help.

Her dedication has remained constant and the Red Cross Kentucky Region and South Central Kentucky Chapter are proud to celebrate her 20 years of service.

Here’s your opportunity to get to know Shelia a little better.

Current Job Title: Administrative Assistant

Hometown: Columbia, Mississippi

Family: Married to Chris for 37 years, two daughters (Rachel and Jessica), two sons-in-law, two grandchildren and two cats.

The one thing no one knows about me is… me and my husband went over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

My first job was… at Fotomat Booth (yes, I am that old).

What led me to working at the American Red Cross was… I have always had a passion for serving others. Seeing the Red Cross at work at a young age led me to the Red Cross as an adult.

My most memorable moment/moments with the Red Cross is/are… during 9/11 seeing the community come together wanting to donate blood to help.

The best advice I ever received was… always look for the positive in everything, doing so helps you solve the problems you face with a better attitude. (My dad)

If I could do it all over again, I… wouldn’t change a thing!

My favorite part of working for the American Red Cross is… seeing people give of themselves to help others in need.

The best meal I ever had was… my grandmother’s homemade biscuits and fresh garden vegetables.

At the top of my bucket list is… travel to every state (seven more to go).

My favorite pastime is… traveling, needle knitting, loom knitting and crochet.