Lauren Ober The Citizen
Anita Strods is in the hopper.
That is to say, she's waiting to get her volunteer assignment from the Red Cross. She's confident she'll be sent to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, but she's just not sure when. For now, it's a waiting game.
But Strods has been in this position before. As a volunteer with eight years of disaster relief experience, the fact that Strods could get called up anytime doesn't ruffle her. While some people might get in a tizzy about the spur-of-the-moment trip possibility, Strods is cool under pressure.
She has to be. As a licensed social worker, it is essential that Strods stay level while dealing with her patients. The last thing someone in crisis needs is an unsteady counselor.
Strods, a grandmother who currently works for the Syracuse Housing Authority, is not exactly the picture of an adrenaline junkie or one who is gung-ho about crises. But, push the Skaneateles resident a bit and she'll tell you she thrives in crisis situations. That's one of the things that lead her to volunteer her services back in 1997.
"I wouldn't ask for [a crisis], but I love it," she said, lounging on the deck of her pool after work.
Strods explains that there are two Chinese characters that make up the word "crisis" - danger and opportunity. She believes that situations like hurricanes, severe floods and 9/11, provide opportunities for good to come out of danger and despair.
In her first year as a volunteer, Strods mainly counseled local families after fires and floods. Since then, she's done relief work for Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a major flood in Broward, Fla., and the 9/11 disaster in both New York City and Washington, D.C.
"I heard about all these disasters and I was at a place in my life where I could do this," she said, referring to her volunteer work.
Right after 9/11, Strods got the call from the local Red Cross office and in two hours she was driving to ground zero. Her initial job was to counsel police, fire and other rescue personnel at a staging site. Then, she traveled with a National Guard patrol in Humvees looking for "hot spots," or flare-ups of tempers and emotions.
During her 9/11 work, Strods put in long days, essentially working on overdrive just to get the job done.
"If I had to work 16 to 18 hours here at my regular job, I would die," she joked. "But there, you just went."
Sept. 11 was the last time she volunteered with the Red Cross. She had a number of family obligations over the last few years and didn't want to volunteer if she couldn't fully commit to it. But she admits she has missed the work.
Now, Strods is keen to offer her services to the countless victims of Hurricane Katrina and she's ready to go at a moment's notice. Her employer already knows that she will probably be taking off soon, as does her husband Sal and their three children.
Her suitcase takes just five minutes to pack. Strods knows exactly what she'll need to take. In a small suitcase, with wheels she says, she will pack three pairs of black pants, three black tops, a few pairs of black socks, 14 pairs of underwear, a nightgown and her Red Cross smock. But, she says, she could deal with much less.
"A toothbrush and 14 pairs of underwear - that's the bottom line," she said.
Strods might have to take a little more than that, says Susan Marteney, executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
"This disaster is unlike others. This is the 'granddaddy' of disasters. The volunteers will need to bring sleeping bags, foodstuffs and minimal clothing,"' she said. "There's a good chance they could be sleeping on the floor at a shelter, too."
Strods isn't cowed by the gravity of this particular disaster. She attributes her steadiness to her 40 years experience in the field, her supportive family and the resilience of those effected by the disasters.
"They all had such struggles, but they all have such strengths," Strods said.
So, when she does finally get the call, Strods will be off in no time. She's anxious to get down there and do her part, which she knows, as a mental health counselor, is huge.
"I'm really eager to go," she said. "Once you get in that mindset, you just want to go."
overdrive just to get the job done.
"If I had to work 16 to 18 hours here at my regular job, I would die," she joked. "But there, you just went."
Sept. 11 was the last time she volunteered with the Red Cross. She had a number of family obligations over the last few years and didn't want to volunteer if she couldn't fully commit to it. But she admits she has missed the work.
Now, Strods is keen to offer her services to the countless victims of Hurricane Katrina and she's ready to go at a moment's notice. Her employer already knows that she will probably be taking off soon, as does her husband Sal and their three children.
Her suitcase takes just five minutes to pack. Strods knows exactly what she'll need to take. In a small suitcase, with wheels she says, she will pack three pairs of black pants, three black tops, a few pairs of black socks, 14 pairs of underwear, a nightgown and her Red Cross smock. But, she says, she could deal with much less.
"A toothbrush and 14 pairs of underwear - that's the bottom line," she said.
Strods might have to take a little more than that, says Susan Marteney, executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
"This disaster is unlike others. This is the 'granddaddy' of disasters. The volunteers will need to bring sleeping bags, foodstuffs and minimal clothing,"' she said. "There's a good chance they could be sleeping on the floor at a shelter, too."
Strods isn't cowed by the gravity of this particular disaster. She attributes her steadiness to her 40 years experience in the field, her supportive family and the resilience of those effected by the disasters.
"They all had such struggles, but they all have such strengths," Strods said.
So, when she does finally get the call, Strods will be off in no time. She's anxious to get down there and do her part, which she knows, as a mental health counselor, is huge.
"I'm really eager to go," she said. "Once you get in that mindset, you just want to go."
Staff Writer Lauren Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext 245 or lauren.ober@lee.net
That is to say, she's waiting to get her volunteer assignment from the Red Cross. She's confident she'll be sent to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, but she's just not sure when. For now, it's a waiting game.
But Strods has been in this position before. As a volunteer with eight years of disaster relief experience, the fact that Strods could get called up anytime doesn't ruffle her. While some people might get in a tizzy about the spur-of-the-moment trip possibility, Strods is cool under pressure.
She has to be. As a licensed social worker, it is essential that Strods stay level while dealing with her patients. The last thing someone in crisis needs is an unsteady counselor.
Strods, a grandmother who currently works for the Syracuse Housing Authority, is not exactly the picture of an adrenaline junkie or one who is gung-ho about crises. But, push the Skaneateles resident a bit and she'll tell you she thrives in crisis situations. That's one of the things that lead her to volunteer her services back in 1997.
"I wouldn't ask for [a crisis], but I love it," she said, lounging on the deck of her pool after work.
Strods explains that there are two Chinese characters that make up the word "crisis" - danger and opportunity. She believes that situations like hurricanes, severe floods and 9/11, provide opportunities for good to come out of danger and despair.
In her first year as a volunteer, Strods mainly counseled local families after fires and floods. Since then, she's done relief work for Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a major flood in Broward, Fla., and the 9/11 disaster in both New York City and Washington, D.C.
"I heard about all these disasters and I was at a place in my life where I could do this," she said, referring to her volunteer work.
Right after 9/11, Strods got the call from the local Red Cross office and in two hours she was driving to ground zero. Her initial job was to counsel police, fire and other rescue personnel at a staging site. Then, she traveled with a National Guard patrol in Humvees looking for "hot spots," or flare-ups of tempers and emotions.
During her 9/11 work, Strods put in long days, essentially working on overdrive just to get the job done.
"If I had to work 16 to 18 hours here at my regular job, I would die," she joked. "But there, you just went."
Sept. 11 was the last time she volunteered with the Red Cross. She had a number of family obligations over the last few years and didn't want to volunteer if she couldn't fully commit to it. But she admits she has missed the work.
Now, Strods is keen to offer her services to the countless victims of Hurricane Katrina and she's ready to go at a moment's notice. Her employer already knows that she will probably be taking off soon, as does her husband Sal and their three children.
Her suitcase takes just five minutes to pack. Strods knows exactly what she'll need to take. In a small suitcase, with wheels she says, she will pack three pairs of black pants, three black tops, a few pairs of black socks, 14 pairs of underwear, a nightgown and her Red Cross smock. But, she says, she could deal with much less.
"A toothbrush and 14 pairs of underwear - that's the bottom line," she said.
Strods might have to take a little more than that, says Susan Marteney, executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
"This disaster is unlike others. This is the 'granddaddy' of disasters. The volunteers will need to bring sleeping bags, foodstuffs and minimal clothing,"' she said. "There's a good chance they could be sleeping on the floor at a shelter, too."
Strods isn't cowed by the gravity of this particular disaster. She attributes her steadiness to her 40 years experience in the field, her supportive family and the resilience of those effected by the disasters.
"They all had such struggles, but they all have such strengths," Strods said.
So, when she does finally get the call, Strods will be off in no time. She's anxious to get down there and do her part, which she knows, as a mental health counselor, is huge.
"I'm really eager to go," she said. "Once you get in that mindset, you just want to go."
overdrive just to get the job done.
"If I had to work 16 to 18 hours here at my regular job, I would die," she joked. "But there, you just went."
Sept. 11 was the last time she volunteered with the Red Cross. She had a number of family obligations over the last few years and didn't want to volunteer if she couldn't fully commit to it. But she admits she has missed the work.
Now, Strods is keen to offer her services to the countless victims of Hurricane Katrina and she's ready to go at a moment's notice. Her employer already knows that she will probably be taking off soon, as does her husband Sal and their three children.
Her suitcase takes just five minutes to pack. Strods knows exactly what she'll need to take. In a small suitcase, with wheels she says, she will pack three pairs of black pants, three black tops, a few pairs of black socks, 14 pairs of underwear, a nightgown and her Red Cross smock. But, she says, she could deal with much less.
"A toothbrush and 14 pairs of underwear - that's the bottom line," she said.
Strods might have to take a little more than that, says Susan Marteney, executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
"This disaster is unlike others. This is the 'granddaddy' of disasters. The volunteers will need to bring sleeping bags, foodstuffs and minimal clothing,"' she said. "There's a good chance they could be sleeping on the floor at a shelter, too."
Strods isn't cowed by the gravity of this particular disaster. She attributes her steadiness to her 40 years experience in the field, her supportive family and the resilience of those effected by the disasters.
"They all had such struggles, but they all have such strengths," Strods said.
So, when she does finally get the call, Strods will be off in no time. She's anxious to get down there and do her part, which she knows, as a mental health counselor, is huge.
"I'm really eager to go," she said. "Once you get in that mindset, you just want to go."
Staff Writer Lauren Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext 245 or lauren.ober@lee.net
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