Posted by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
Denver, January 11, 2018
David Hatfield, a volunteer with the Colorado and Wyoming Red Cross Mile High Chapter is deploying to Santa Barbara, CA to support people affected by the recent mudslides. This will be Hatfield’s first deployment and he will be working as a counselor with the Disaster Mental Health Team. As such he will work one-on-one with those people under significant stress due to the disaster.
As many as 25 people were injured and at least 50 people were rescued by helicopter. The number of people impacted could
A damaged home is shown in Montecito, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. Dozens of homes were swept away or heavily damaged and several people were killed Tuesday as downpours sent mud and boulders roaring down hills stripped of vegetation by a gigantic wildfire that raged in Southern California last month. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
increase as the search continues by a major search-and-rescue team, the Coast Guard, National Guard and law enforcement. Numerous homes have been damaged or destroyed and officials expect to find more as additional areas become accessible. Officials have both mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders up in parts of Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.
Overnight, almost 60 people stayed in 4 Red Cross shelters. If someone needs to find a shelter, they can call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767), visit redcross.org, or download the free Red Cross Emergency App. The Emergency App is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps. They can also check with their local officials or monitor local media for information on where to find a shelter.
Keeping in touch. The Red Cross has two easy ways to help people reconnect:
- The Red Cross Emergency App features an “I’m Safe” button that allows users to post a message to their social accounts, letting friends and family know they are out of harm’s way. The Emergency App is free and can be found in the app store for your mobile device by searching for “American Red Cross” or by going to redcross.org/apps.
- The American Red Cross Safe and Well website is a free public reunification tool that allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe, or to search for loved ones. The site is always available and open to the public and available in Spanish. Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website. Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876. Messages exist in both Spanish and English.
- To speak with someone at the American Red Cross concerning a missing friend or relative, please contact 1-800 Red Cross.
For local information about the Red Cross response in California visit: https://www.facebook.com/redcrossla