Linda Kay's Blog: September 2009

 Okay, so of course this picture was taken by Roxanne.. she gets the BEST pictures!  If you need a photographer for anything, let me know!

 Okay, so let's get down to it.  My husband is an air traffic controller in the area.  They got some really great pictures during these fires as the helicopters were actually coming through their airport.  And, of course, I had to add a picture of him in the tower!  TLW, that's a good wife's duty! 

So by now you all know that I volunteer for the Red Cross (http://www.sgpvarc.org).  I have spent the last six days and nights working in the La Canada, CA shelter for the Station Fire as it has been dubbed.  This website actually has amazing picture galleries along with the most current news story: http://www.pasadenastarnews.comci_13242704

The American Red Cross is made up of many small chapters which cover specific territories. For instance, my chapter, which is one of the largest in the country, serves 1.8 million people in 44 communities from La Canada Flintridge to Pomona and Duarte to Rowland Heights, covering 320 square miles.

When the fire started it began in our chapter area and I am the lead disaster Public Information Officer.  It is my responsibility to get good, correct information out to the media and make sure that the media gets their story while still protecting the privacy of our shelter clients. and for the first couple of days it remained that way.  However, when the fire jumped in size from 5,500 acres one morning to 24,000 by night time, it also jumped to three chapters in one day.

FINALLY, on the sixth day, when we were all dead on our feet, the National Red Cross decided to step in and make it a national emergency.  What that means to you guys is that now they will be sending help from all over the country to help out with the shelters, the feeding, the public information, and the list goes on and on and on!  For all you folks who get hurricanes, it's like receiving all the help you get during those times.

 For anyone wishing to follow the fire incidents around the country, the website is http://inciweb.org.