Red Cross volunteers with 2 OB residents who were evacuated. from left: Ronnie Hicks, Cynthia Mah, OB resident, Steve Deal, OB resident, Rick Wall, Donna Hester. Photo Credit: Red Cross
Red Cross Services for OB During the Gas Leak Evacuation
By South OB Girl
When Ocean Beach residents had to be evacuated because of a gas leak last week, they were met by the arrival of the Red Cross disaster action team. The team arrived on the scene around 10 p.m. on Monday, August 22 to provide canteen services to first responders and evacuees. Authorities asked the Red Cross to set up a Temporary Evacuation Point at Ocean Beach Recreation Center on Santa Monica Avenue.
Red Cross volunteers at the OB Rec Center. – from left: Michelle Lew, Cynthia Mah, Cathy Ponce
Maureen Kilkenny, Regional Communications Director of the American Red Cross of San Diego/ Imperial Counties, provided the following information detailing the services provided by the Red Cross during the evacuation.
At 2 a.m. when it was determined it wasn’t safe for residents to return to their homes the Red Cross turned the Temporary Evacuation Point into a shelter.
Services Provided: Housing, Food (Red Cross provided/not donated), Comfort Kits, Snacks.
- Total number registered at shelter – 19
- Overnight stays – 14
- Tuesday’s day population – 5
- Breakfasts served – 15
- Lunches served – 4
- Bottles of water/sports drinks/protein drinks served – 62
- Snacks served – 19
- Comfort Kits provided – 19
- Pet Comfort Kits provided – 2
- Blankets provided – 2
17 Red Cross staffers responded from Monday night through Tuesday afternoon.
A comfort kit includes hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, razor, shaving cream, soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, tissues and a wash cloth).
A pet comfort kit includes a small bowl, food, water, and a leash and the Red Cross has them for both dogs and cats.
Perhaps some catastrophes for which the Red Cross provides relief are larger in scale — but the Ocean Beach community greatly appreciates that there was food, shelter, and assistance provided during the evacuation last week. What a remarkable response during OB’s time of need.
If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross:
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The Red Cross would like the following statement to be added:
“The Red Cross response is made possible by the generosity of volunteers, who give their time, and donors who enable the Red Cross to purchase the supplies, such as the cots, meals, and comfort kits provided to the evacuees.”
My sentence describing the food provided during the gas leak evacuation as “Red Cross provided/not donated” did not fully explain that the food provided by the Red Cross was made possible by volunteers and donations. The food was not donated at the time of the evacuation by a particular vendor or restaurant; the food was provided by the Red Cross and was made possible by donations.
In the photo of the four Red Cross workers in the OB Rec Center : (from left) Michelle Lew, Cynthia Mah, Monica Honoree, and Cathy Ponce.