May 8, 2009 — The American Red Cross continues to shelter and feed evacuees of the Jesusita Wildfire in Santa Barbara at two evacuation shelters: Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta and the MAC Center on the UC Santa Barbara campus. On May 7, the overnight population at the high school was 240 people. More than 600 people spent the night at the Multi-Activity Center, which has a capacity of 900.

The fire has damaged or destroyed at least 75 homes so far, but officials expect that number to climb. An estimated 30,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, officials said.
Since all Southern Californians live in wildfire country, the American Red Cross recommends that all residents take the following steps to prepare:

Emergency Supplies
When wildfire threatens, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need if advised to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, dufflebags, or trash containers.
Include:

• A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescription medications.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler’s checks.
• Sanitation supplies.
• Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
• An extra pair of eyeglasses.
• Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Assemble a smaller version of your kit to keep in the trunk of your car.
• Find out about the hazards in your community

Meet With Your Family

• Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.
• Explain how to prepare and respond to each type of disaster.
• Discuss where to go and what to bring if advised to evacuate.

Plan How Your Family Will Stay in Contact if Separated by Disaster

Pick two meeting places:

1. A place a safe distance from your home in case of a home fire.
2. A place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

Choose an out-of-state friend as a “check-in contact” for everyone to call.

Complete These Steps

• Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
• Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches.
• Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
• Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information and training.

Help people affected by disasters like the wildfires by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 5:28 pm and is filed under LA Red Cross News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.