As Hurricane Ian approached the Bay Area, a Red Cross volunteer helped people prepare — but as Ian changed course, so did he.

He is this week’s Everyday Hero.

The day Spectrum News met Eric Johnson, he was teaching his U.S. history class at Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey. He had just returned from southwest Florida.

Before Ian, he helped friends and family in Pasco County get prepared. But when the storm changed directions, he headed south, into the monster, to help those in need.

“The Red Cross is an amazing organization, but it still takes several days for the volunteers to get there from across the country,” Johnson said. “So, since I knew they would need help, I loaded up my truck and drove to Fort Myers.”

Eric spent five years in the United States Marine Corps, only to have his career cut short by an injury. While in the service, though, he was trained in rescue and recovery. 

“The first day, I helped set up a shelter,” he said. “We had to run to get cots. We retrieved cots, medical kits, comfort kits. Later that night we got food.”

Eric described the many volunteers working out of the Lee County Emergency Operations Center for the Red Cross.

“That one center served 1,200 meals on the first day and they got to where they got to over 8,000 by the second day," he said. "Because every day more volunteers came in from Boston, New York. It was amazing.”

And what if it had been the Bay Area that had taken a direct hit?

“I’ve seen what the disaster relief and Red Cross do,' Johnson said. "So I truly believe that if we had been hit, people from around the country would have come to help us."

He also volunteered following Hurricane Katrina and said he will be ready to help again for any future storms. 

“Yes sir," he said."The Lord willing and my body still working, I’ll be there.”