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| Aroostook Republican photo/ Natalie Bazinet Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County branch manager of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross, handed off the keys for the region’s Emergency Response Vehicle to volunteer Bill Thomas of Woodland, who headed for New York with another volunteer from Bangor on Nov. 3. |
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Six-year volunteer with the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross Bill Thomas of Woodland was packed and ready to go for a week before he finally got the call on Nov. 2.
Thomas is one of many Red Cross volunteers converging on greater New Jersey/New York area, where Extratropical Storm Sandy struck, assisting those in need.
Thomas, who received the phone call that his volunteerism was needed around noon on Nov. 2, picked up the Emergency Response Vehicle from the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross headquarters in Caribou roughly an hour later. He was slated to hit the road early on Nov. 3 and anticipated that his services would be utilized mostly driving, though he is trained in shelter assessment.
“Most likely I’ll be delivering food, supplies and transporting workers,” Thomas estimated. “I’ll probably be gone for two to three weeks, but I’ll stay longer if needed.”
Aroostook County Branch Manager of the Pine Tree Chapter Joyce Knorr said that it is a privilege to have people like Thomas representing Aroostook County with disaster relief.
While Thomas has volunteered with local disasters, like the flooding in Fort Kent, this is his first time deployed as a Red Cross volunteer traveling a long distance to assist those in need — but it’s not the Vietnam Veteran’s first deployment, that’s for sure.
“I’m ready to go,” he said on Friday afternoon. “I’ve got God to watch over me.”
According to Jason Shedlock, regional director and communications/government relations for the American Red Cross of Maine, two of Maine’s three Emergency Response Vehicles were scheduled to be sent to New York on Nov. 3, each with a two-person volunteer team.
