by David Chapman
Staff Writer
If last week’s deluge reminded you of Northeast Florida’s brush with Tropical Storm Faye, you weren’t alone.
For Northeast Florida Red Cross CEO Jack Morgan, that type of reminder can go a long way toward getting the bug in people’s ear about the hurricane season that begins Monday.
While many meteorological prognosticators are anticipating a “tamer” storm season than in years past, Morgan is busy warning people against becoming complacent.
“Many people hear that it’s not going to be a busy season,” said Morgan, “But all you need is for just one to hit you to remember it’s still important to be getting ready and prepared.”
Preparation means having the necessary supplies and a plan in case a storm does make its way to the area. Morgan and other key figures within the organization are busy preaching the message to local organizations and the community in general in anticipation of the 2009 storm season.
As head of the local chapter that deals with emergencies and safety, it’s not the only storm Morgan has to help weather. There’s a similar one hitting the budgets of nonprofits and businesses across the country.
“One of our big struggles is the economy,” said Morgan. “Like others, it really does impact us.”
With no government funding at all – the Red Cross is funded through the United Way as well as individual and corporate giving – and overall charitable giving down, it’s led to Morgan looking for new ways to generate funds for the organization’s many programs.
“We’re always looking for new partnerships,” he said. “We’re working with companies too, which doesn’t have to mean giving funds. It can mean giving time. It can be having employees becoming trained in CPR or taking a safety class,” he said.
Morgan is in charge of the region’s chapter with offices at Kings Bay, Mayport, St. Augustine, Palatka and in Riverside. While full-time staff is just under 30 people, there are close to 1,000 organization volunteers, almost 500 of which are in the dedicated disaster relief field.
Even with the challenges, things haven’t been doom-and-gloom.
“Morale has been good and better than expected,” said Morgan.
Much like the storms he’s telling people to be prepared for, Morgan has tackled challenges over the course of his career, one that has taken him on numerous preparation and relief efforts, in a proactive manner.
“It is a challenge,” said Morgan, on all the things that come with the position, “But it’s worth it.”
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