Weathering the Storm: How the American Red Cross Supports the RGV

(This article was written by Beth Marie Cantu Ensign and was featured in the May 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)

When disaster strikes, most of us look for safety. But for Kayla Gonzalez, Executive Director of the American Red Cross South Texas Chapter, it’s a call to action.

“The core mission of the Red Cross,” Gonzalez explains, “is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing volunteers and the power of our donors.” It’s a mission she and her team uphold across a region known for its unique climate challenges and tight-knit communities.

Photo courtesy of American Red Cross South Texas Chapter

Gonzalez didn’t always envision herself in this role. A former staffing agency manager, she found her way to the Red Cross through a LinkedIn message. What started as a volunteer recruiter role became a passion. Now, as executive director, she balances her career with being a full-time mom of three and a master’s graduate.

The work is personal for Gonzalez. She recalls her own family being helped by the Red Cross during the floods of 2019. “My mother-in-law’s home was severely impacted,” she recalls. Red Cross volunteers showed up with water, blankets, and a list of resources to help her family get back on their feet. “I didn’t know much about them at the time, but I saw their impact firsthand.”

“It all lined up perfectly,” she adds. “It's like they say… God has plans for you, and I think that for me… He definitely had me on the right track.”

Photo courtesy of American Red Cross South Texas Chapter

In the Texas Gulf Coast, flooding and hurricanes are not just possibilities—they’re seasonal realities. “We’re constantly training,” Gonzalez says. “Year-round, we’re recruiting and preparing volunteers through disaster action teams and mass care training. That way, if there ever comes a time where [a disaster] does happen we are as prepared as we can.” From organizing local response teams to coordinating with national staff, the South Texas Chapter works tirelessly behind the scenes, making sure every volunteer knows his or her role before a storm hits.

While the Red Cross is often associated with disaster response, the South Texas Chapter’s impact reaches far beyond emergencies. From CPR and first aid training to youth education programs like “Prepare with Pedro,” the organization actively builds community resilience.

“We go into different school districts, elementary schools,” Gonzalez shares. “To get their little minds wondering, thinking on how they can better prepare in case there was a fire or any sort of disaster in their household or in the area.”

With a staggering 95% of operations powered by volunteers, it’s no surprise Gonzalez calls them the “heartbeat” of the Red Cross mission. They do everything from driving emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and distributing supplies to staffing front offices and hosting community tabling events.

But for those unable to commit long-term, there are still ways to get involved. “[Volunteers] could be available once a week, they can be available once a month.” All the help the Red Cross can receive, she implies, is welcome and appreciated.

Photo courtesy of American Red Cross South Texas Chapter

The recent devastating floods in Harlingen and surrounding areas pushed the chapter’s resources to their limits. “Of course, we didn't expect– I don't think anybody expected– for the rainfall to happen how it did …  We honestly weren't 100% prepared,” Gonzalez admits.

“But I'm glad that throughout the year we conducted trainings with everybody, and everybody already knew what role they were going to have.” The Red Cross quickly set up a shelter at the Harlingen Convention Center, coordinating with local leaders and partners like Catholic Charities to ensure displaced families received food, shelter, and support.

Photo courtesy of American Red Cross South Texas Chapter

Disaster preparedness doesn't begin when the skies turn gray. The American Red Cross works closely with local officials throughout the year, attending conferences, participating in mock drills, and planning coordinated responses. These partnerships paid off during the recent flooding, resulting in what Gonzalez calls “a surprisingly organized disaster.”

Volunteers flew in from across the country—from Mississippi to Hawaii—to help assess damages, distribute aid, and provide emotional support. “I think it took about four days for us to start getting our supplies, because we were so impacted by water all around us,” states Gonzalez. “Then the airport was closed. People couldn't fly in. We couldn't get supplies flowing… I think that was one of the major challenges that we have seen.”

Photo courtesy of American Red Cross South Texas Chapter

She also tells the story of a mother from Green Valley Farms who walked barefoot through floodwater with her children to receive a hot meal. “She was just super grateful,” Gonzalez recalls, getting emotional. “It was a good moment…  to know that we're there to do great things for them and help support them in any way that we could. That day she left happy; she left with a meal for her family.”

Gonzalez wishes more people understood that the Red Cross isn’t just there when headlines hit. “We’re responding to house fires every day. We're out training individuals every single day… We’re doing smoke alarm campaigns once a month, and train new volunteers constantly. It's not just at a time when a disaster hits. We're here all the time.”

In South Texas, where every drop of rain can turn into a community crisis, Gonzalez and her team are ready—not just to respond, but to lead with heart.