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Thursday, April 26, 2007

Thanks to the "Master of Disaster"


Gary Miller has become associated with disasters in Hamilton County -- in a good way. This week he was recognized for his work.

Miller is retiring as Director of Preparedness for the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Red Cross after 34 years of service.

"If there has ever been a fixture and a presence of calm within a storm; any time there is a disaster locally and volunteer are called on to go elsewhere; if there is anyone the Red Cross is associated with, it's Gary," said County Commissioner Todd Portune during a commission meeting Wednesday.

Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing Miller for his service.

"He’s been a real mainstay in the area of public safety and is a nationally recognized figure of emergency response for the Red Cross," Portune said. "For anyone whose been in the midst of that type of disaster, a friendly face is so meaningful. They know everything is going to be OK. That’s what he’s been for 34 years."

According to the resolution, Miller, also known affectionately as the "Master of Disaster," is among only seven people in the American National Red Cross who are qualified to serve as job director of a "level five" national disaster (the really bad ones.)
He's served on more than 29 national disaster operations including in New York after the Sept. 11 attacks and in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. He also led relief operations in Cincinnati during the 1997 floods, the 1999 tornado and the Styrene leak in 2005.

A humble Miller thanked the commissioners, and as a good leader does, didn't forget to give recognition to the Red Cross volunteers. "We couldn't do it without our volunteers," he said.
Miller will be honored again at a Red Cross dinner Friday.


4 Comments:

at 12:38 PM, April 26, 2007 Blogger JohnDWoodSr said...

Nice post about Gary Miller.His expertise and professionalism will be missed.I don't know if the Red Cross has his replacement in the wings, but anyone they choose will probably be adequate just as long as they don't hire anyone from FEMA, like Michael "heckuva job" Brown.(rhymes with clown and drown)

 
at 1:37 PM, April 26, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great guy!

 
at 12:15 AM, April 27, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank you, sir and all the volunteers

locally we are the prime example of what the red cross should be all about in this country

 
at 2:49 PM, May 29, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have had the privilege of knowing Gary Miller for 35 years. He is as fine a man as anyone could ever want to know. What he doesn't mention is the emotional toll it takes always being there in the midst of such sorrow and devastation. That Gary did this for such a long time, giving selflessly of himself, is a tribute to him and to his wife, Carolyn, who is truly a saint.

Rob Hendrix, Xenia, Ohio

 
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