Eric Cain might have felt small as he packed his bags and left for Houston last week to help with the flooding disaster. But he didn't, for he was going as a representative of the American Red Cross.
The 1990 Atlanta High School graduate is regional director of the Red Cross for Northeast Texas.
"I will be a public affairs officer. My job will be to assist in handling communications from those in need to those with the power to help," he said. "I'll also be communicating from the Red Cross to our supporters, the ones who will want to know how their help is working."
Cain said the Red Cross is preparing to set up a mega shelter, if needed.
"It will be needed if 20,000 people are displaced as may be," he said. "That's something not done since Hurricanes Rita and Katrina."
As of the time of his departure last week, 2,000 to 3,000 were displaced, he said.
The American Red Cross is an organization used to tackling big matters, he pointed out.
"Because we depend upon volunteers and generous contributors, we can move fast to get things done," he said.
The Red Cross aims to help people on their path to recovery, he said.
Previously Cain had been regional director for former U. S. Rep. Ralph Hall. When he was recommended for the Red Cross position, he said he found it a similar work of public service and he was already familiar with this Northeast Texas area.
The Red Cross is divided into service areas. From his office in Texarkana, Cain helps coordinate relief work for 362,000 people in both Arkansas and Texas, including the Texas counties of Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Rains, Red River and Titus.
Each Red Cross area works with others when called upon. That is why Cain was going to Houston
"I'm planning to stay for two weeks. More if necessary," he said.