Photograph by Robert Scheer
Kathi and Don Manzagol get their kicks from helping others as Red Cross volunteers.
By Mark Kregel
While some couples may spend their retirement in quiet reflection, Kathi and Don Manzagol volunteer their time for disaster relief. The two have just returned from spending two weeks doing damage assessment for the Red Cross.
"The work is hard physically, but very rewarding," Kathi said. "It was a good experience."
Ron, a retired architect, drove through the different towns, making notes of the damage to homes as far north as the Oregon border and as far south as Modesto.
He would then bring his findings back to Kathi in Sacramento, who tabulated the data to determine the appropriate aid. The damage to the homes would be judged as either minimal, major or completely destroyed.
As a retired architect, Don is especially useful in this line of work. "He knows how a building should look, which works out good for us," said Donna Brand, community preparedness specialist for the Red Cross.
The couple said scenes of the floods on broadcast news were nothing like seeing the real thing.
"When you see someone's home submerged, it's truly heart-wrenching," said Kathi. "The hardest part of the work is seeing the looks of anguish on the victims' faces."
Part of the Manzagols' role with the Red Cross involves providing the first response to a disaster. The Red Cross takes care of the immediate needs of the victims. Soon after, the Federal Emergency Management Agency takes care of those afflicted.
The Manzagols were impressed with both the response time of the Red Cross and the willingness of volunteers during the disaster.
"Neighbors were helping neighbors," Kathi said. "People were doing work wherever the need was. It restores your faith in humanity. It amazes me how they can pull together that many people at one time."
The couple joined the Red Cross after the floods of 1982 and 1983. Their Canyon View home suffered damage, and many came to their aid.
"The ground dropped eight feet in one day," Don said. "The earth had washed into the road below, and there was a big drop outside by the back door."
Don said the house became uninhabitable because electricity, water and phone lines had been cut off. Neighbors and volunteers helped them save their home.
Kathi said that since so many people helped her, she wanted to "do her part." The couple assisted in the Midwest during the 1993 floods and in the Virgin Islands during Hurricane Marilyn. They also helped provide shelter after the Loma Prieta earthquake.
"[The Manzagols] are very kind," Brand said. "They love to go out and help people. They're very people-oriented."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, February 5, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.