INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Kelly Koch vividly remembers delivering meals and clean-up kits to those who lived through the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The Category 5 storm swirled across the Bahamas, Florida and Louisiana, contributing to 65 deaths.
It was the first volunteer assignment for Koch at American Red Cross South Florida Region, where she has helped those in need for more than 30 years. Koch was one of 14,000 workers and volunteers that responded to the aftermath of Andrew.
Andrew ripped through the Caribbean and then slammed into Homestead, destroying homes before moving on leaving behind $26.5 billion in damages, making it one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit the state.
“So many people lost so much,” said 63-year-old Koch, who works as a detention officer at the Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce. “Some homes were completely destroyed while others had severe damage. Trees were blocking the roads too.”
The American Red Cross has more than 500,000 volunteers, including those on the Disaster Action Team which is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help in the aftermath of fires, floods, hurricanes and other disasters. More than 90 percent of American Red Cross’ work is done by volunteers like Koch, Regional Communications Director Tiffany Gonzalez said.
“Our mission simply wouldn’t be possible without them, and during April — as we celebrate National Volunteer Week — we’re putting the spotlight on these selfless individuals,” Gonzalez said.
National Volunteer Week runs Sunday, April 16, through Saturday, April 22. For Koch – who is among those being honored – helping others is not a simple hobby, but a calling.
“Helping people makes me the happiest in my life,” Koch said.
Helping others
Koch’s journey with American Red Cross began when she was a young girl. Residing in Ohio in the 1970s, Koch began to donate blood for the nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and disaster preparedness education in the U.S.
“My mom used to volunteer for Red Cross,” Koch said. “She got me into the donating blood part of it.”
Koch said she eventually moved to Key Largo – an island in the Florida Keys just south of the mainland – in February 1992. Hurricane Andrew pushed heavy winds and rainbands across the state just six months later.
“Hurricane Andrew was my welcome to Florida,” Koch said.
Koch said her home was not damaged from the storm, but she was left without power for at least two weeks. Koch said she drove 25 miles to find a working pay phone to let her family know she was safe.
“We didn’t have cell phones back then. Every single pay phone was either blown away or destroyed,” Koch said. “My family was very happy to hear from me.”
Hurricane Andrew caused Koch to lose her job as an answering service operator. Koch said she then began to officially volunteer with American Red Cross by handing out clean-up kits and meals to those who needed them.
Since then, Koch has responded to numerous disaster events to help with relief efforts. Koch – part of the Disaster Action Team – said she has volunteered for relief efforts for Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Nicole and many others over the decades.
“Most times we use Red Cross vehicles – cars, pickup trucks and SUVs – to travel to the disaster areas,” Koch said. “We pack food in the emergency response vehicles. We usually have a warehouse nearby that brings supplies to the disaster area.”
Koch said she is a manager of an American Red Cross shelter in Okeechobee and reviews the finances for disaster response efforts. Koch, who is also part of the agency’s public affairs team, writes press releases when there is a disaster impacting south Florida.
American Red Cross opened up shelters for those who had their homes flooded and lost power during the rainstorm that slammed Fort Lauderdale last week, Koch said. The storm splashed 25.6 inches of rainfall within 12 hours.
The rainfall flooded runways at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, causing the airport to briefly close and cancel more than 1,000 flights. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Thursday for Broward County.
Koch, who was out of town for training during the flooding, said it broke her heart that she wasn’t there to assist those impacted by the powerful storm.
Koch said she is fortunate that she has not been severely impacted by a disaster event. The American Red Cross veteran said she is happy to be a small part of an organization that has helped millions of people, sometimes at the lowest point in their lives.
“I love being able to help people in need,” Koch said.
How to volunteer
Red Cross volunteers can assist families at shelters, help with relief efforts by joining the Disaster Action Team, and more. For more information on applying for a volunteer position, visit the Red Cross website.
American Red Cross – Palm Beach and Treasure Coast Chapter
The Palm Beach and Treasure Coast Chapter of American Red Cross serves Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River counties. More information on the chapter offices can be found below:
Vero Beach Office
2506 17th Ave.
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: (772) 562-2549
St. Lucie County Service Center
3525 West Midway Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Phone: 772-672-8800
West Palm Beach Office
1250 Northpoint Parkway
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Phone: (561) 833-7711
Belle Glade Service Center
149 SE Avenue D
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Phone: (561) 996-4291
Okeechobee County Service Center
208 North Parrott Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34972
Phone: 863-763-2488