By Roger Enix, American Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer
When a fire suddenly displaced Warren and his nine-year-old son in their Cortez home in March 2021, the American Red Cross of Western Colorado Disaster Action Team sprang into quick action to provide comfort and help meet the family’s immediate disaster-caused needs.
Recovery began for the family very shortly after the fire with the help of the Red Cross. Disaster Action Team members, Roger and Cindy Enix from Durango and Sean Killoy, Disaster Program Manager from Cortez, contacted Warren on the same day as the fire and were able to help with lodging the immediate replacement of necessary personal items. Warren’s son has special respiratory medical needs and replacing his critical medical supplies could have been a complicated and stressful situation for Warren. Fortunately, a Red Cross disaster health volunteer was able to facilitate replacements.
Warren and his son were displaced for nine days. “All is good now and we’re back to good order with your help,” said Warren while discussing his recovery. “My son is doing just fine too. We’re back in our old home and we were able to get everything we needed immediately with the help of the Red Cross support”.
“I would encourage anyone who needs, as a result of an unexpected disaster, to seek the help of the Red Cross. You did a really good job helping us – doing the best you could do”, Warren said after he and his son returned home. “Our landlord stepped up and made sure things like burned areas and repaired the smoke damage before our return and we were able to replace our beds. We’re back to good order, with your help”.
Experts say today’s home fires burn faster than ever, leaving people with only as little as two minutes to escape a burning residence. But many mistakenly believe they have more time, according to a Red Cross survey last year.
The Red Cross urges everyone to take these lifesaving steps:
- Develop a fire escape plan with everyone in your household and practice it at least twice a year. Need help with your plan? Use some of the available, free Home Fire Campaign resources from the Red Cross.
- Install smoke alarms in your home, on every level and outside each sleeping area. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year if required.
- Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what they should do if they hear one.
- Make sure all household members know two ways to escape from every room.
- Establish a family meeting spot outside.