When the disaster struck Lac-Mégantic this summer, Mrs. Lavallée, a Lac-Mégantic resident, was visiting a relative. After hearing the sound of explosions, she and her sister-in-law left the house very quickly, without even taking time to put on her shoes. Mrs. Lavallée made her way to the emergency shelter set up for evacuees from the community. As the scope of the disaster become more and more apparent, Mrs. Lavallée grew increasingly concerned about her son who also lived in Lac-Mégantic who she feared was one of the many who were missing. After several attempts to reach him the next morning, Mrs. Lavallée eventually added her son to the list of missing persons.
Jérôme, a Red Cross emergency response volunteer, was part of the first group of volunteers who responded to the call for help and provided assistance to Lac-Mégantic residents at the emergency shelter in the days following the disaster. As the fires from the explosion continued to burn, Jérôme helped support evacuees like Mrs. Lavallée who feared for their missing friends and family. The Sunday evening after the explosions Jérôme was working reception at the shelter when two men arrived with news for Mrs. Lavallée about her son. Jérôme woke Mrs. Lavallée so the men could deliver their news – her son was alive and well!
While Canadian Red Cross volunteers can have very difficult jobs, there is nothing more rewarding than supporting and reuniting family members following a disaster, as Jérôme can attest. Mrs. Lavallée remembers the kindness and support from all of the volunteers at the shelter but is especially thankful for Jérôme’s role in her stay at the shelter. Every day Mrs. Lavallée would hug Jérôme, remembering the good news he helped bring to her.
You can read a full account of Jérôme and Mme Lavallée's experience in the aftermath of the Lac-Mégantic disaster in French here.