Great Hearts Roosevelt’s Officer Drew Aids Hurricane Victims

Great Hearts Roosevelt October 9, 2024 -

As Hurricane Helene left devastation across communities in the South, a team from Arizona, including Great Hearts Roosevelt’s Safety Resource Officer (SRO) Drew, responded to the urgent needs of affected communities. The group, along with a convoy of supplies, arrived in remote areas where the hurricane’s destructive force had left entire towns nearly inaccessible.

Part of their trip was documented by ABC15 Arizona. See full story above. 

Officer Drew, a former marine, described the scene as “devastating” as he and his team made their way through the debris-filled roadways and collapsed bridges. “Like everything was shut down,” Drew remarked, recalling the hazardous road trip that brought them to Burnsville, one of the hardest-hit areas. The group worked tirelessly to deliver food, water, and other essentials to those in need. Another member of the group shared how they pulled a man to safety after his home was swept away by the flooding Cane River, a harrowing moment the group will not soon forget.

As the team continued to provide relief in North Carolina, Drew’s mission was far from over. With Hurricane Milton barreling toward Florida, he has shifted his focus to helping vulnerable residents evacuate before the storm’s arrival. “We are actually driving into Florida right now. We have to get these people out and evacuated before it hits. It’s a race against time right now,” Drew said, determined to make a difference once again. Despite the exhaustion of long hours and relentless work, his sense of duty remains. “We are moving this van and trailer as fast as possible. Four and a half hours out from Tampa. We will make it happen,” updated Office Drew in a text to John Lund, Great Hearts’ Safety Manager.

Lund praised Drew’s unwavering commitment: “Every day, our Campus Security Officers know each day they may have to stop a threat, and in doing so, may have to risk it all. That kind of selfless dedication is on display in Officer Drew. A marine, husband, and father, he has gone to put his life in danger to save others. We could not be more proud of him and ask you to pray for his safety and for all those facing this hurricane.”

Drew’s contributions are well known to his colleagues at Great Hearts Roosevelt. Headmaster Jamie Fairbanks noted, “SRO Drew started at Roosevelt at the end of last year, and his love of service has been evident from the moment I met him. He is invested in our community, and I’ve seen him go out of his way to make sure a scholar got the help they needed in a moment of stress. His service to the citizens of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida is no surprise to me.”

Great Hearts stands in solidarity with all those affected by the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, the first responders, and the brave volunteers like Officer Drew, who are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of those in harm’s way.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.