News and Stories of the American Red Cross Gold Country Region
Author: American Red Cross California Gold Country Region
The California Gold Country Region serves a twenty-six county territory including Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba counties
Volunteers Racheal Jostock, Jill Davidson and Rose Nobili unloading supplies at the Bully Fire shelter. Photo by Caroline Nilsson
~UPDATE: As of July 17, 7:00am, evacuations had been lifted and Bully Fire shelter is now closed~
After three consecutive years of California drought, fires start easily. The Bully Fire in Shasta County has burned more than 10,000 acres so far, forcing the residents of the Trinity Alps Preserve to flee their homes. The American Red Cross is here, offering shelter and comfort to those who have been evacuated. Continue reading Wildfire Season in the Capital Region – Bully Fire
Bully Fire (Shasta County). AP Photo/The Record Searchlight, Greg Barnette
As California continues to endure an historic drought, summer heat and exceptionally dry conditions have given way to numerous wildfires throughout the state. In the Capital Region, firefighters continue to battle the Bully Fire in Shasta County, which has burned more than 8,700 acres.
Red Cross volunteers are currently operating an evacuation shelter at the Igo-Oso Elementary School in the town of Igo, where we are providing shelter, food, and emergency resources for evacuated residents.
The long Fourth of July weekend is here and many people will spend part of their holiday at a backyard or community pool. The American Red Cross is issuing ten steps people should take to be safe while poolside.
A recent Red Cross survey found that eight out of ten Americans are planning water activities such as going to the beach, pool, water park, or boating or fishing this summer. A third (32 percent) of all Americans plan to swim at a place without a lifeguard. The Red Cross has launched an anti-drowning campaign this summer that promotes swim lessons and safe swimming. Continue reading Red Cross Issues Top Ten Ways to Be Safe When Swimming Over 4th of July Holiday
Written by Debbie Calcote, Red Cross Disaster Program Manager, Stanislaus/Tuolumne Counties
For the past 7 years, volunteers and I have attended the San Joaquin National Cemetery Memorial in Santa Nella.
Today marked the 7th year of this tradition. I know it doesn’t seem like much to some, but this morning I was watching all the volunteers and I remembered when this venture first began. I was a volunteer at the time. I would work for weeks planning and gathering supplies for us to provide refreshments for those in attendance. We didn’t have as many resources then, so it was often a struggle to get supplies. But we were all happy to go out and ask for such a great event.
When we pack our bags and check in at the airline counter for a long overdue trip to Maui, most of us never give a second thought to what goes on behind the scenes of an airport to keep us safe. Just like home, school, or work, the entire airport must create a cohesive plan, working together to prepare for potential emergencies. Continue reading Red Cross Takes Part in Triennial Airport Exercise
~Written by Caroline Nilsson, Volunteer for the American Red Cross of Northeastern California~
It was 6 PM on Friday night when my cell phone rang. Pat Day’s voice was on the line.
“You won’t believe it,” she said. “You know that explosion that happened a couple of days ago? Well, they’ve found explosives in the house. They’re evacuating the area. We need to open a shelter.”
I’d been expecting a call. Amidst the driest winter in years, the rain had finally begun to fall on our Northeastern California town, and rain in Redding often means snow in the mountains. I’d already gotten a heads-up that we might need to open a shelter in Siskiyou if the storms were bad. We hadn’t been expecting explosives. Continue reading Volunteer Perspective – Red Cross Response to Shasta County Emergency
By Drisana Bhatia, 4th Grade Student Theodore Judah Elementary School Folsom, CA
In October 2013, I visited American Red Cross to learn about the support that the volunteers provide during natural disasters. During that field trip, I came to know how the volunteers work day in and day out to extend their help to the people in need.
There were some pictures from Haiti, after it suffered from the earthquake. One of the pictures was just a door standing with fallen walls all around it. It moved me a lot and I felt really sorry for the families that lost homes. I realized the value of the help that Red Cross volunteers provided to those families and many more.
This poem (free verse) is my reflection of that feeling. I want to dedicate my poem to the volunteers of American Red Cross and similar organizations.
Hope Shines
The ground shook,
The ground shivered;
The shaking destroyed homes and lives.
People were stunned, injured, sobbing in pain,
Looking for loved ones.
Others rushed to help,
To comfort the injured souls.
A little girl was alone
In the middle of a damaged porch
Frightened, shocked, hungry…
Trying to find her mother.
She heard a footstep; a man coming towards her.
He gave the frightened girl some food and
A hug…
A sign of love and understanding.
Teardrops rolled down her tiny cheeks
She felt happy to be with someone.
Even in the darkest of times
A little light shines from somewhere –
The light of humanity and kindness.
In that light we dream of a better world.
A world inspired by those,
Who believe in love and care.
A world where hope shines.
By Drisana Bhatia 4th Grade, Theodore Judah Elementary School November 2013
There is never a bad time to learn how to save a life. Red Cross classes are available throughout the Capital Region on a daily basis, teaching critical skills that help to prepare you for disaster and know how to respond in the face of emergencies.
However, the month of March offers a few additional opportunities to make a difference. March is Red Cross Month, and throughout the month, the American Red Cross Capital Region will offer free Hands-Only CPR training sessions and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) demonstrations as part of Save-a-Life Saturdays! Continue reading Learn to Save a Life During Red Cross Month
The American Red Cross urges residents to take extra precautions with cooking and decorating around the holidays.
“Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, and as people are cooking, entertaining, and stringing lights this holiday season, we’re urging that they take safety measures to ensure that their homes and loved ones are safe from the threat of fire,” said Kathleen Weis, Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross Capital Region. Continue reading Red Cross Issues Safety Tips to Prevent Holiday Home Fires
Gold Country News and Notes 