Five horses, four dogs, two cats and a ferret found shelter at the Navajo County Fairgrounds during the Highway 377 Fire evacuation of the DeSpain ranches on the afternoon of June 4. While the 20 plus members of the three families evacuated found lodging with family and friends, Joe Gillespie, one of the Red Cross volunteers, said that the Red Cross was called in shortly after the evacuation order had been issued.
Gillespie, along with David Thompson and Tony Miller, members of the Northern Arizona Chapter with the Red Cross, set up the evacuation center at the fairgrounds in case the fire worsened. The center was replete with water, snacks, food and a cool place to rest. The county also had hay on hand for the horses and food for the other animals.
“If an animal needs a special diet, the owner has to provide that,” said Gillespie. “Navajo County does a fantastic job and is a great partner during these situations.”
Gillespie said aside from helping with emergencies and disasters one of the primary purposes of the Northern Arizona Chapter is to assist people whose homes have burned. “We can provide immediate housing assistance based on the condition of the home, whether it is livable or not, and the number of people affected by the fire,” noted Gillespie.
Additionally, the chapter can help replace medicines lost in the fire and provide mental and spiritual support for those coming through the fire. When a house fire occurs, people are encouraged to immediately call 1 (800) 842-7349 for assistance.
Another resource that Red Cross offers is the Safe and Well Registration, which provides a way for people to maintain contact with friends and family during an emergency or disaster when cell phones and other means of communication are limited. To sign up, a person can call into the Red Cross at the number listed above, visit an evacuation center during the crisis or register online to www.SafeandWell.org.
The Red Cross is funded 100 percent by private donations, from numerous businesses and people from around the world. “There is no government money involved in this and 95 percent of the work is done by volunteers,” said Gillespie.
When the Red Cross is brought into an emergency or disaster, they are ready to assist those in need. “We don’t care where you are from, where you live or what your background is, we are here to help,” shared Gillespie.
As volunteers, all three men agreed that the chance to help people during a disaster is their biggest motivation for being a part of the organization. From comfort bags and cots to reminding folks to bring a pillow to the shelter if possible, Miller said the best piece of advice he can give someone in a crisis is to, “Slow down, breathe, and know that help is available.”
Volunteers and donations are always welcome. For more information, go to www.redcross.org.
