Over the weekend, San Diego had quite a large wildfire in the Otay mountains that prompted some evacuation orders. During red flag conditions, the Red Cross is on high alert for these types of situations and keeps many volunteers on call for potential logistics and sheltering needs. If an evacuation is ordered, the Red Cross will set up a temporary shelter in the area for evacuated residents to use. For this instance, the Cuyamaca State College gymnasium was used for the Border 2 fire, which over the weekend spread to over 6,000 acres. When a shelter is opened, the Red Cross logistics team will deliver a disaster services trailer which is loaded with military cots, comfort kits with personal sanitation items, blankets, and food service items.
Over the weekend the shelter housed a few dozen families and served meals to several hundred people. Luckily, we got some much needed rain on Sunday and the evacuations orders were lifted. On Monday the shelter closed and I helped the logistics team load up the trailers with the shelter supplies to take them back to HQ.
If you are interested in being available to help in times of need like this, you will soon be able to see opportunities available to you in your area through Civica USA!
