Guest post by Andrew Hopkins, Canadian Red Cross blogger
Disaster is not new to Nancy Hollman. Imagine a stormy, grey, summer afternoon. On her bed with her two and a half year old son, Hollman was suddenly thrown to the floor and covered in debris. It was July 31, 1987. A tornado had just demolished her Edmonton home. 27 people died, but Nancy and her child survived to be rescued from the rubble. Almost 30 years later, Nancy is now working with the Canadian Red Cross, meeting with people who lost their homes just three months ago, in the Alberta wildfires.
“I can actually let them know a little bit about what I’ve gone through,” says Nancy.
She is working with aboriginal people impacted by the fires. She says she knows from experience the emotions and challenges many people around Fort McMurray are now facing.
“I know exactly what they’re talking about,” she says. “That actually makes them feel a little bit of relief.”
Nancy, herself, received assistance from the Red Cross after the Edmonton tornado. She was provided with money as she was recovering from her injuries and starting to rebuild her life.
She says it’s been rewarding to provide that type of hope to others.
“I feel very relieved that I can help,” says Nancy. “I want to help more. There’s never enough.”
Recovery will be different for everyone, but Nancy understands it takes support from friends, family, and even strangers. She wants people in the Fort McMurray area to know they can still do amazing things, even after losing so much.
“Be positive, stay strong, and be a believer! That’s what I’ve done, and this is where I am today,” she says.