by Catie Ballenger, American Red Cross Public Affairs
On Saturday, August 8, 2020, while settling in for the evening, the Hernandez family and the other residents of the Pine Creek Apartment complex were battered with the smell of smoke and the sound of fire alarms.
Anna Hernandez recalls the terrifying the experience and how she and her family escaped the danger of their burning apartment complex, “the smoke was so thick and the air was so hot, I had to jump from the third floor balcony to get out. The rest of my family got out before me but had to leave without putting on shoes or grabbing clothes.”
In total, 46 homes were impacted by this devastating fire, displacing dozens of people. The damaged units still remain uninhabitable. Anna and her family were left feeling shocked, scared and uncertain about their future. The family of 6 was now homeless. They were not sure when or if they would be allowed to return to their home.
“If it wasn’t for the Red Cross, our whole family would have had to stay in our van until we could figure out where else to go,” says Salvador, Anna’s brother. “Thankfully, the Red Cross was able to help us, giving us food, a place to stay and direction – especially with the pandemic.”
The coronavirus pandemic puts additional stress on families seeking shelter, which is why the Red Cross has plans in place to reduce risks—such as social distancing protocols, face coverings, health screenings, prioritizing individual hotel rooms and opening more shelters that can support fewer people than normal.
The safety of our workforce and the people we serve, like the Hernandez family continues to be our priority. The Red Cross follows CDC guidelines, and we work closely with local health officials to safely provide help and hope when disasters strike.