When the Santa Anita Canyon Fire started in Sierra Madre on Saturday afternoon April 26^th, the Arcadia Chapter Disaster Action Team was ready to assist, providing mutual aid to the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.  Disaster Team members worked as the Red Cross liaison in the Emergency Operations Center , staffed evacuation shelters, and provided canteen services to Emergency Response personnel.  Volunteers Tagreed Abassi, Raymond Cheung, Amy Chiou, Karen Conrad, Neil Conrad, Wing Lo, Judith McAdoo, Adrian Velasquez, and Kenny Wang as well as staff members Linh Tran and Kathleen Householder worked 12 hour shifts to provide disaster services to the community.  The shelter located at a church in Sierra Madre for evacuees was closed on April 29th at noon, as all residents in the affected area were allowed to return home.

 In an emergency situation such as the Santa Anita Canyon Fire, where residents must evacuate their homes, the Red Cross will open a shelter in an unaffected area of the community.   At the shelter, residents have access to message boards, television for information updates, food and drinks, and cots and blankets.  When residents are allowed to return home, the shelter will close operations.  Additionally, the Red Cross will have a representative at the city’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) to communicate updated information and requests for Red Cross services as long as the EOC is open.  All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, thanks to the generous donations of the public. 

 Many thanks to the Arcadia Chapter volunteers and staff who responded to the emergency, as well as those who continue providing our every programs and services to the community during this disaster.