The Santa Maria-based warehouse for the Santa Barbara County Red Cross is impeccably organized, clean, and well-stocked.
Large steel-frame shelving reaches more than a dozen feet to the ceiling, holding all the supplies necessary to respond in a moment’s notice to a disaster. Stored in countless bins and boxes are stacks of green cots, fuzzy grey blankets, first aid kits, and even an electric generator or two.
When responding to an emergency, order is critical to an organization as large as the Red Cross. Knowing the exact location and amount of every donated item helps staff members and volunteers provide high-quality care and comfort to individuals in need.
In the North County, this responsibility falls on the shoulders of Orcutt resident Michael Southern.
As the region’s logistic lead, Southern inspects and inventories all of the Red Cross’ North County emergency and disaster supplies.
“I make sure everything is serviceable,” Southern told the Sun in a recent interview at the Red Cross warehouse on Skyway Drive.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but the state and counties don’t set up emergency shelters,” he said. “They call the Red Cross.”
The county, for example, contacted the Red Cross in December when torrential downpours caused the Santa Maria River to swell past its banks and flood a neighborhood in Guadalupe.
The Red Cross has also responded to numerous fire evacuations throughout the county. Some of the blazes are big, like the Gap or Tea fires. Others are more concentrated, like apartment fires.
“We have a lot of apartment fires in Santa Maria,” Southern said, adding that the Red Cross is able to offer victims of these events up to three paid nights in a hotel. “There may be people who would rather stay with relatives, but there aren’t any beds available. So we provide the cots and blankets, and everyone gets a personal hygiene kit.”
Southern first started volunteering for the Red Cross in 2008—the same year the Gap and Tea fires charred thousands of combined acres from Goleta to Montecito.
“After I got finished with my 9-to-5 work life, I needed something else to do with my time,” Southern said. “Helping people during natural disasters seemed like a good fit.”
A former deputy U.S. marshal and background investigator for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Southern said his career training prepared him well for volunteering at the Red Cross.
“I’m used to traveling and to making decisions on the run. I’m an independent operator who’s used to making decisions without having to call into the main office to ask, ‘Is this OK?’” Southern said.
“I guess my independent thinking paid off because I’ve got all of that bling on the table,” he added with a chuckle, pointing to an impressive-looking award lying on his workstation.
The Santa Barbara County Red Cross recently recognized Southern with the Clara Barton Volunteer Leadership Award—the highest honor a volunteer can receive through his or her local chapter. Clara Barton was an American teacher, nurse, and suffragist who cared for soldiers during the Civil War and founded the American Red Cross.
Southern received the award for his work in the warehouse and for his involvement in the organization’s Community Disaster Education and Service to the Armed Forces programs. For these two programs, Southern leads information presentations for families, schools, clubs, businesses, and other groups.
“Because of [hurricanes] Gustav and Ike, I saw how completely unprepared people were for disasters of that magnitude,” Southern said, adding that people need to know how to care for themselves during an emergency.
“If you can go in your backyard and camp for five days in a primitive way, with no running water, electricity, or natural gas, you’re in good shape,” he said.
During his presentations, Southern teaches people what kinds of supplies to keep on hand in case of a disaster. He also helps business owners protect their livelihoods, by backing up data offsite and keeping their employees and their families well informed about what to do in case of an emergency.
“Michael has always been one of those quiet leaders who doesn’t really talk about himself, but when you get under the surface—wow—he’s really an amazing individual,” said Julie Jeakle, the Santa Barbara County Red Cross’ volunteer program director.
When asked what made Southern a good recipient of the award, Jeakle said: “His ability to get other volunteers to engage in the process, because it’s all about getting a team of folks involved.“He’s a really approachable guy,” she continued. “When I’ve seen him in action, he doesn’t just tell people what to do; he takes the time to show them how to do something. He’s really invested in their success as a volunteer.” m
Contact Managing Editor Amy Asman at aasman@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 7-14, 2011.