With heaps of experience and expertise, six staff and volunteers from the American Red Cross joined the Canadian Red Cross on June 24, just four days after major flooding caused mass evacuation in areas in and around Calgary. Hailing from San Francisco, North Dakota, Michigan, New York and Washington D.C, the group arrived and immediately sprung into action to lead various teams in logistics, planning, communications and distribution.
“We came in with a goal to help, and with the hard work of the Canadian Red Cross, we met that goal,” says Dario Diaz, an international delegate from New York. “This is my life. This is what I like doing and helping people is what I love.”
Initially joining the Red Cross in 1996 as a CPR and Lifeguard instructor, Dario quickly found himself in a place he belonged and where he would stay.
“I worked Hurricane Sandy until this past March, so it hasn’t been much of a break in the past two years, but that’s one of the best parts about this kind of work. It’s inspiring because you know we’re all moving and doing things for the same purpose,” he adds.
Coming to Calgary is also Dario’s first time in Canada. “I met a lot of Canadian Red Cross people in New York- it’s my home chapter and they helped us out so much with Hurricane Sandy. I needed to come here and help. It’s a great relationship we will continue for sure.”
To help with our efforts, please
donate to the Alberta Floods fund.