SANTA CRUZ – The American Red Cross Santa Cruz County Chapter has deployed additional volunteers to Washington where wildfires have forced residents from their homes. Jay Dravich, Arthur Larios, and Rick Daniel of Santa Cruz; Allan Mayfield of Carmel Valley; Dennis Poole and Michael Eugene Fyfe of Aptos; and Russell Cole of Boulder Creek will join volunteers already in Washington who are providing shelter, food, and emotional support to residents who have been displaced.
Trained members of the Red Cross workforce are responding to help people affected by wildfires in Washington and Oregon where thousands of acres are burning and residents are being forced to leave their homes. A total of 16 volunteers from the Gateway to the Golden State region are responding thus far.
WILDFIRE SAFETY If your home is being threatened by a wildfire, make sure the entrance to your driveway and house number are clearly marked. Other safety steps include the following:
- If a fire is burning in the area, be ready to evacuate quickly.
- Back your car into the garage or park it out in the open facing the direction you need to go to escape.
- Be cautious driving in the area – winds can unexpectedly cause poor visibility on the roads.
- Drivers should also watch for downed power lines and poles.
- Listen and watch for air quality reports and health warnings about smoke. People with health conditions need to take extra precautions.
- Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.
- Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car. If you do not have air conditioning and it is too hot to stay inside with closed windows, seek shelter elsewhere.
- When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns and adds to indoor air pollution, such as candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves. Do not vacuum because it stirs up particles that are already inside your home.
- If you have asthma or another lung disease, follow your health care provider’s advice and seek medical care if your symptoms worsen.
Free Apps Available for Download
WILDFIRE APP The Red Cross Wildfire App lets users know what they should do before, during, and after a wildfire.
FIRST AID APP The Red Cross First Aid app provides information about how to handle the most common first aid emergencies.
Both apps are available for iPhone and Android devices.
How to Help
Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the American Red Cross Santa Cruz County Chapter
The American Red Cross Santa Cruz County Chapter is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from Santa Cruz County residents and companies to provide services and programs that help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. For more information on disaster preparedness, health and safety classes, volunteer opportunities and financial contributions, visit our website at redcross.org/santacruz or call us at 831-462-2881. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.