One of the worst windstorms in the past ten years has fuelled a few deadly wildfires, forcing residents of Los Angeles County to escape from their homes from the Pacific Palisades to Pasadena.
The American Red Cross and KCAL Cares have joined together to help our communities in times of need. Here are several ways you may support the fire victims.
Donations
To assist individuals impacted by the windstorms and fires, go to www.redcross.org/kcal. Additionally, you can donate $10 by texting the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 or by phoning 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
You can donate blood by going to www.redcrossblood.org.
The Red Cross is able to prepare for, respond to, and assist people in recovering from both minor and major disasters because to your donation.
Volunteer
Register on the Red Cross website at www.redcross.org/volunteer to become a volunteer. According to the Red Cross, its most critical roles are in disaster relief, shelters, and blood donation.
Shelters
Four shelters for evacuees have been made available by the Red Cross. Pets of modest size are permitted.
What to do when a fire sparks in your area
Cal Fire has listed certain precautions locals may take to save their homes and lives, particularly when a red flag warning is in effect, which means that a rapidly expanding fire could suddenly appear.Firefighters divided it into three phases: Prepare, prepare, prepare to go.
Prepare yourself.
Create a defensible area around your house before a fire starts to keep it from burning. Like control lines, defensible space can provide a safe area for firefighters to manage the fire while also perhaps preventing the flames from reaching residential areas. Generally speaking, firefighters advise having at least 30 feet of defensible space around a property.
Prepare.
Cal Fire stresses how crucial it is to have a plan in place before a wildfire breaks out nearby.
A meeting place, a few escape routes, plans for pets and livestock, and a communication strategy—basically, a single person that family members can reach—should all be included in this wildfire action plan.
Known as the “6 P’s of Evacuation,” firefighters developed a phonetic list to help them remember everything:
A “go bag” can hold all of these goods, and it’s preferable to make one for each member of the family.
Be prepared to leave.
Residents will only need to implement their plans once a wildfire encroaches on their community because the preparations are already in place.
On their social media profiles, fire departments usually issue warnings and orders to evacuate. Additionally, residents can follow along on the websites of their local fire department or Cal Fire, or they can sign up for text notifications for updates.
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