View of the Fire from Sagus Shelter                              Entrance of Shelter site at Sagus High School

DAT Volunteer Tagreed Abassi, and  Arcadia         Tagreed Abassi staffs the registration desk

DAT Co-Captains Neil & Karen Conrad prep the

shelter for breakfast.                             

   Tim Lin, Paul Huang & Wei Chen, Former Red Cross Youth Volunteers.

The Arcadia Chapter responded with supplies of cots, blankets, and comfort kits and a volunteer Disaster Action Team team to staff the Saugus High School Shelter on Sunday night that opened to assist those displaced by the Buckweed Fire.  Adrian Velasquez was the overnight Shelter Manager, aided by Neil and Karen Conrad, Tagreed Abassi, and Kathleen Householder.  Monday night’s team of Josiah Au and Diana Liu joined the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter in staffing the shelter.  Adrian Velasquez and Neil Conrad returned to staff the shelter in the early morning hours Tuesday.  Neil Conrad returned yet again to assist with another shelter, the Golden Valley High School Shelter in Canyon Country, and the closing of the Saugus High School Shelter.  As the Saugus and Golden Valley Shelters closed, Chapter cots and unused supplies were brought back to the Arcadia Chapter, where former Red Cross youth volunteers Tim Lin, Paul Huang, and Wei Chen unloaded and inventoried supplies, preparing the Chapter van and trailer for use in the next emergency.

In response to the great need for Red Cross Disaster Response Teams in San Deigo, Kenny Wang left on Tuesday, driving an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) from the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter.  ERVs are used to facilitate the distribution of food and clean up supplies in affected communities.  Additionally, Ellen Velasquez, Program Services Director for the Arcadia Chapter, is on a two week assignment in Sacramento to coordinate staffing for the Red Cross response to all the fires. 

People who have evacuated their homes because of the fires can register on the Red Cross SAFE AND WELL website through the link on our home page to let loved ones know how they are doing.  On this website affected residents can leave status messages for family and friends to let them know where their location and well being.  A Red Cross operator at 1-800-RED-CROSS can help you register if you do not have access to a computer.  All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, thanks to the generous contributions of the American people. 

Although we are not directly affected by the fires in Arcadia and surrounding cities, it is paramount that each of us takes steps to ensure the safety of our families and our homes.  Please take a minute to review the 3 steps to be Red Cross Ready by clicking on the link on our home page.  

In the mean time, Meals on Wheels, Blood Drives, Youth Services Programs, and Special Event planning continues as usual at the Arcadia Chapter.  If you would like to make a difference in the community right now, please consider donating blood.  Dozens of blood drives have been cancelled in Southern California because of the fires.  We need your help to ensure that an adequate blood supply is available for patients in hospitals throughout California .  If you would like to donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.givelife.org to make an appointment.  Donors must be 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds, and be in good health.

We are grateful to all those who have called and emailed the Arcadia Chapter, offering their time, blood and money to help those affected by the fires.  Only with the support of the community can the Red Cross continue to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.