Laura: An Angel of the shelters

Laura Johnson with her husband Harry

Present at the presentation of relief supplies were
L-R WPC Forbes, Miriam Regeb, Gasson Regeb, (the
benefactor), Dr Patrick Burrel-Williams, Laura Johnson
and Arig Regeb

Friday, October 22, 2004

In the last few weeks several readers have contacted Cayman Net News to tell us about Laura Johnson and to commend her incredible work both during and after the hurricane. Since the Friday before Ivan struck, Ms Johnson has been working at the West Bay Shelter. 

Having joined the warden’s team this summer after the call for volunteers, she completed her training course only a matter of weeks before hurricane Ivan made its devastating impact.

Even though she had never done this type of thing before and the role of shelter warden has little in common with her day job at Cayman Data Systems, Ms Johnson has excelled in her position.

“When I first heard the announcement about the need for shelter wardens, I told my husband that I felt compelled to answer that call and become a volunteer,” she said. 

Of course she never imagined how much would be needed of her and how soon, but she has more than risen to the challenge from the very first evening when she greeted her frightened guests at the shelter.

“I tried to keep things as light as possible as I could see the fear in people’s faces as they arrived. Throughout the storm people were coming up to me crying and begging me to rescue relatives. I did what I could by keeping communications open over our mike system,” she added.

“We couldn’t actually get out to people in the height of the storm so with the help of cell phones that were working I told everybody with trapped friends and relatives to advise them to get in the bathroom with a mattress.”

Ms Johnson maintained morale and did what she could for the people under her care during the storm. In the aftermath she has been taking care of residents who have lost their homes She currently has 68 people in the shelter and with the support of her husband and family she is still working every evening and weekend to take care of their needs.

This week Ms Johnson was also present when local businessman, Gasson Regeb brought in his seventh container of relief donations for the residents in the West Bay shelter who are uninsured or who cannot afford to replace essential things. Mr Regeb has been providing building materials, bedding and furniture. He has been carrying out this incredibly generous act of humanitarian support as a result of a promise he made to the Leader of Government Business the Hon McKeeva Bush, to help with the relief effort.

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