Shortly after falling asleep, Scott Jameson woke in the middle of the night to the piercing cry of smoke alarms. Unaware of what to do, instinct took over as Scott rushed to get his wife, one-month-old and 19-month-old out of their home before smoke overwhelmed them.

Minutes later, he stood outside his home, consumed with worry and trying to keep his small children warm. With no shoes and a cold, crying baby in his arms, Scott watched as his home and belongings went up in flames.

“I was just hoping the fire was put out before all our stuff was ruined,” says Scott.

Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers arrived at the burning home and provided Scott, his wife and children with sweat suits so they could stay warm. They gave them slippers so they would not get frostbite, and made sure the baby and toddler were warm enough on that cold, winter night. As the volunteers talked to them about the next step, they gave them the things they would need for the future: food, contact numbers and information. They also helped the family make a call to their insurance company, so Scott and his wife could start thinking about recovery.

“It was so nice for someone to help us. We didn’t know what to do,” says Scott.

As Scott’s family readied to head to a hotel for the night, they worried about two small members of their family: their dogs. The fire had damaged their SUV--the only vehicle they owned that had enough room for their children and two dogs. Not wanting to separate the family after such a terrible time, the DAT Leader went beyond her normal call of duty and transported the Jamesons’ dogs to the hotel.

The American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin relies on donations of time and money so they can provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in Dodge, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties. To donate your time, please visit our Volunteer page. Financial donations can be made online through our secure contribution site.You can also support the Red Cross online by becoming a fan on our facebook page and following us on Twitter.