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When Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast states last month, longtime American Red Cross volunteers Deb and Gary Zales — used to reacting to disasters on a phone call’s notice — didn’t budge.

When the deaths began to rise and fellow volunteers boarded the familiar white emergency vehicles with the telltale red cross to help masses of displaced victims, the Zales stayed behind.

And in the world of those whose job is defined by compassion, that decision makes the Zales even more heroic.

That’s because, while others are moved to help when horror can’t be ignored, the Zales react in the more mundane emergencies — to middle-of-the-night fires that register no more than a blip on the local news, for example.

“You have these big disasters and there are very well-intentioned volunteers who react in the moment and want to do something to make them feel better about the situation,” said Lynn Curtis, community program coordinator. “And that’s great. We need them, too.”

But after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, hundreds signed up with the American Red Cross to help, while less than a dozen of those new recruits actually remain on the volunteer rolls, she said.

“Deb and Gary are there 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” she said.

In fact, earlier this year, the Zales were returning from a fire, tired and smelling of smoke.

They stopped by the Toledo chapter’s annual awards dinner.

Lucky for them.

The stunned duo was honored with the Clara Barton award that night, the highest honor of the Red Cross. So named for the founder of the Red Cross, the award is given for extraordinary service, said Kristen Cajka, Red Cross spokesman.

Often, it is not lifesaving medical supplies or bottled water that is needed.

Sometimes, it’s just about being there, she said.

And that means the Zales — whose pager sits on their nightstand when they’re on call — appear in the middle of the night to hand a teddy bear to a hysterical child or to comfort the elderly while their homes disintegrate into thick, ugly smoke.

To offer sandwiches to exhausted firefighters.

To pick through the rubble with the homeowner to salvage a precious few possessions.

To solicit hotels for lodging.

To listen. To hug.

“Deb and Gary are in the trenches every day. I’m not taking away from other volunteers. They’re wonderful,” said Diane Dixon, the Red Cross’s director of readiness and response. But, she added, “For [the Zales], it doesn’t have to be a sensational incident for them to come forward.”

In fact, even while county and city leaders met downtown for a news conference Tuesday to update the many efforts to help hurricane victims, black smoke choked South Toledo, destroying five Broadway homes and displacing 13 adults and children.

The Zales were there.

Then, without fanfare, they spent the rest of the week in the Central Avenue offices of the Red Cross’s Toledo chapter, churning out paperwork for hurricane victims and depleting the trunkful of Teddy bears and other supplies they carry around in their car.

For their part, the couple — he, a retired builder; she, a special-needs teacher — downplay their contribution, preferring to speak about other volunteers in the organization or the massive operation that fuels the familiar emergency response vehicles throughout the year.

Sure, they’ve assisted in the aftermath of floods and tornadoes and they’ve seen a lot of the country doing so.

But when Katrina hit New Orleans and damage assessments grew ever more grim, the Zales didn’t have much decision to make.

“I think the first thought for both of us was that a lot of people were going to go [to assist in hurricane relief,]” Mrs. Zales said. “But we also can’t leave Toledo vulnerable.”

“We’re staying,” she said.

The couple, who have two grown children, both said they won’t be retiring from the Red Cross soon or easily, despite the emotional drain of reaching out to heartbroken families.

“In the same minute you say ‘I can’t do this again,’ you also think ‘but they’re going to need you again,’” Mrs. Zales said.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Mr. Zales agreed. “We’re hooked.”

Contact Robin Erb at: robinerb@theblade.com or 419-724-6133.

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