ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Dozens of resources from New York State have been sent to various southern communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 232 people across six states when it hit the U.S. at the end of September.
During massive natural events with significant damage and devastation, often times the greatest support in near and far ways shines through. But what about those who are headed toward the dangers? One man who is originally from Western New York is currently in the heart of offer support to those who are on the front lines of both recovery and prepping efforts as Hurricane Milton rapidly approaches Florida.
“Law enforcement in general is doing a better job of saying hey let’s take care of our people. not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” says Dr. Vernon Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is originally from the Western New York area and has been serving for the past several years as the Chaplain Director of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in central Florida. He holds a motto, “Serve, Support, Sustain,” which he applies to his role, alongside a team of volunteer chaplains. He also runs the peer-to-peer support group. The overall goal: making sure the approximate 1,000 employees are, themselves, okay, a necessity for the crucial work required for the job.
“A lot of them that are preparing right now that are over there, they’re doing all this preparedness work, they’re here getting things ready, getting agencies ready, getting the community ready, getting the county ready, and they’re not at home getting their stuff ready – right they’re not at home making sure that their families are taken care of or that they’ve got what they need because they’re here,” Dr. Phillips explains.
Following Hurricane Helene’s fatal devastation through much of the Big Bend area in Florida, a team of deputies from the MCSO was deployed to nearby Live Oak. Dr. Phillips made the trip there to check-in on those team members and make sure they also had what they needed.
“That just gave me the opportunity to go up there and just spend a couple hours with them just to see how they’re holding up, given everything that they were doing because you know they’re starting their day you know at 6:00 in the morning and they’re going til 11, midnight.”
Dr. Phillips explains the average civilian is expected to experience anywhere from one to three “critical incidents” in a lifetime, often causing short or long-term trauma. For those in the law enforcement and first responder fields, over a 20 year career, will encounter anywhere from around 188 to upwards of 800 “critical incidents.” Natural disasters are no exception.
“Sometimes in some of these cases they’ve got several you know causalities and some of them are going in, they’re doing rescue efforts and they’re pulling people out of flood waters or they’re you know recovering dead bodies and that takes a toll on that individual,” says Dr. Phillips.
“Resources have gotten better but the whole thing that needs to be pushed out or needs to be addressed within the first responder and law enforcement community is there’s resources that are available to you and it’s okay to say, ‘I’m having a hard time with this call,’ it’s okay to say, “I’m feeling a little bit beaten up because I can’t pull another lifeless child out of a pool.” because it weighs on them,” he continues.
The Western NY native also started a non-profit agency in Marion County, outside of the Sheriff’s Office, called “Critical Aspects” – this connects law enforcement and/or first responders with a therapist, trauma-informed and who specializes working with those in that field. The first six sessions are covered, but there are plenty of additional resources, including financial support for continued care.
“To say that’s not going to effect you is unrealistic – right – even though they’ve chosen this profession, even though they feel called – a lot of them – to be in this profession and they want to serve and help people that doesn’t take away the humanity of who they are,” says Dr. Phillips.
WNY Red Cross teams have also been deployed to assist Florida as the state braces for Hurricane Milton. Between the impending storm and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, recovery efforts for several communities and hundreds of thousands of people will be long-term.
“One of the consequences of this is obviously the southeast region of the country has had a lot of cancellations of blood drives, we’ve lost you know thousands of units of potential blood donations so eventually that’s going to have an impact so other regions in the country are trying to compensate for that so if people are inclined to give blood we welcome that as well,” says Michael Tedesco, Regional Communications Manager for the WNY Red Cross.
Red Cross is also addressing the misinformation which has been circulating in various mediums in connection to the relief responses. (see below)
In an incentive launched Tuesday, Red Cross donors are eligible to receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card and be entered to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. Go to RedCrossBlood.org/treat to register. This runs through the last day of the month.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 8-31:
- Livingston
- Avon
- 10/15/2024: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Avon Veterans Hall, 5480 Avon-E. Avon Rd
- 10/16/2024: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 6274 E Avon-Lima Rd
- Dansville
- 10/22/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Dansville Ambulance, 18 Ossian Street
- Geneseo
- 10/18/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Livingston County Government Center, 6 Court street
- 10/29/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., UMC Geneseo- Community, 4520 Genesee St
- Livonia
- 10/21/2024: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., Livonia Fire Department, 4213 S Livonia Rd
- Mount Morris
- 10/24/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mount Morris Central School, Bonadonna Ave
- Retsof
- 10/23/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., York Central School, 2578 Genesee Street
- Monroe
- Brockport
- 10/23/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Seymour Library, 161 East Ave
- 10/29/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., State University of New York at Brockport Seymour College Union, 350 New Campus Drive
- Churchville
- 10/18/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Riga Town Hall, 6460 Buffalo Road
- Fairport
- 10/18/2024: 8:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Fairport HS, 1 Dave Paddock Way
- 10/26/2024: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 6687 Pittsford Palmyra Rd
- Honeoye Falls
- 10/9/2024: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Honeoye Falls Ambulance, 210 East Street
- Mendon
- 10/28/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Catherines Church Monsignor Schnacky Community Center, 26 Mendon Ionia Road
- Penfield
- 10/16/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Town of Penfield, 2130 Penfield Road
- 10/18/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., YMCA Eastside, 1835 Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd
- Rochester
- 10/8/2024: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Ave, Rochester General Hospital
- 10/8/2024: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/9/2024: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., University of Rochester Alumni and Advancement Center, 300 E River Rd
- 10/9/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Greater Rochester International Airport, 1200 Brooks Ave.
- 10/9/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Rochester Police Locust Club, 1425 Lexington Ave.
- 10/10/2024: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/11/2024: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Gates Town Hall, 1605 Buffalo Rd
- 10/12/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brighton Fire Department, 3100 East Avenue
- 10/14/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Irondequoit Fire Department, 2960 Culver Rd
- 10/15/2024: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/16/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monroe County Office Building, 39 W Main St
- 10/17/2024: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/19/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brighton High School, 1150 South Winton Road
- 10/22/2024: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/23/2024: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Highland Hospital, 1000 South Ave
- 10/24/2024: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/24/2024: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Rochester Institute of Technology Student, 1 Lomb Memorial Drive
- 10/26/2024: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/28/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Planet Fitness – Gates, 78 Spencerport Rd
- 10/29/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Henrietta Recreation Center, 605 Calkins Road
- 10/29/2024: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/30/2024: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., University of Rochester Medical Center Cafe 601, 601 Elmwood Ave
- 10/30/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/31/2024: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 1040 University Ave
- 10/31/2024: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., University of Rochester Medical Center Cafe 601, 601 Elmwood Ave
- Spencerport
- 10/11/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ogden Community Center, 269 Ogden Center Road
- 10/23/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion- Spencerport, 691 Trimmer Rd
- Webster
- 10/10/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Webster Fireman’s Building, 172 Sanford St
- 10/17/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Webster Fireman’s Building, 172 Sanford St
- 10/23/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 818 Ridge Road
- 10/26/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Martin Lutheran Church, 813 Bay Rd
- West Henrietta
- 10/31/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., IDEX, 1180 John Street
- Ontario
- Bloomfield
- 10/30/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., East Bloomfield Central School, 21 Oakmount Ave.
- Canandaigua
- 10/8/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Crosswinds Wesleyan Church, 3360 Middle Cheshire
- 10/12/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Canandaigua Fire Department, 335 South Main Street
- 10/14/2024: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Reed Corners Federated Church, 4030 Route 247
- 10/22/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Crosswinds Wesleyan Church, 3360 Middle Cheshire
- 10/30/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Mary’s Church, 95 North Main St.
- Clifton Springs
- 10/21/2024: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Clifton Springs Fire Department, Clifton Springs Fire Department, 39 Kendall Street
- 10/25/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Midlakes High School, 1554 Route 488
- Geneva
- 10/16/2024: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Geneva Presbyterian Church, 24 Park Place
- 10/25/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Geneva General Hospital, 196 North St
- Hall
- 10/25/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Hall Fire Hall, 4890 NY-14A
- Honeoye
- 10/10/2024: 1:45 p.m. – 7 p.m., United Church of Christ, 8758 Main Rd
- Victor
- 10/22/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Coopervision, 209 High Point Drive
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