Magnolia resident Brad Howell will be honored today (3/11) by the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties at the 2010 Heroes Breakfast.

Every 48 hours on average, the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties responds to a local disaster like a house fire or flood. Those incidents often happen in the middle of the night, and Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer Brad Howell is often the person who gives up hours of his time, sleep and comfort to help those in need.

“Brad is there meeting the needs of people in their time of crisis,” said Red Cross volunteer Madeline Lovell.  “He really brings a sense of caring to people affected disasters.”

Brad has served as a DAT Captain and a shelter volunteer for six years, on call one week out of every three. As a Captain, Brad leads a team of more than 20 volunteers, responding to disasters and coordinating overall responses, including large-scale events where shelters need to be opened.

In shelters or late-night disaster scenes, situations can be chaotic, with families who have to evacuate their homes with only the clothes they were sleeping in. “Brad’s team members are consistently impressed with Brad’s sense of calmness, no matter what the situation,” said Kale Rose, Red Cross Client Services Coordinator. “He is a great leader and an excellent Red Cross volunteer.”

Brad is one of fifteen heroes being honored at the the Fourteenth Annual Heroes Breakfast.  Photo by Bill Mohn