Name: Thousands sheltering at LA evacuation centers
Uploaded: 2025-01-08T19:08:54.956Z
Duration: 2 min 31 s
Description: American Red Cross spokesperson Mimi Teller speaks to Becky Anderson from a Los Angeles shelter housing evacuees displaced by the wildfires. She urges Californians to be ready for wildfires year-round by keeping a “go kit” ready at all times.

American Red Cross spokesperson Mimi Teller speaks to Becky Anderson from a Los Angeles shelter housing evacuees displaced by the wildfires. She urges Californians to be ready for wildfires year-round by keeping a “go kit” ready at all times.

Los Angeles

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

More than a thousand structures have been destroyed and lives lost as wildfires sweep across parts of Los Angeles.

LA Wildfires

The American Red Cross is actively assisting with evacuations in Los Angeles in response to ongoing wildfires. They have established two shelters, including one in Westwood, to support residents displaced by the fires. The operation aims to ensure the safety of evacuees and provide them with the necessary information and support. Currently, the shelter at Westwood is housing 70 people, assisting them as they adjust to the temporary lodging, amidst power outages and difficulties in contacting family members.

Mimi Teller, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, has emphasized the importance of year-round preparedness for wildfires in California. She advises residents to maintain a "go kit" and to have a clear evacuation plan and communication with family members. With no definite wildfire season, Californians are urged to stay vigilant and utilize available resources, including the Red Cross app, for emergency alerts and preparation guidance.

As residents begin to wake, the Red Cross team is working to assess their needs and provide additional support. Fundamental needs such as safety, food, and communication are currently prioritized, as many evacuees are still attempting to reconnect with their families due to connectivity challenges exacerbated by power outages.



Thousands sheltering at LA evacuation centers

Tell us very specifically where you are and what you are doing to help support residents fleeing these wildfires. What's this operation about? So we currently have two shelters open right now and I'm currently at the one in Westwood, which is about five miles from where the fires are raging, close to Santa Monica, the UCLA campus. We have 70 people fast asleep right now in our dormitory and we're here to just make sure that they are safe and that they get the information and the support that they need. How much preparation can people do for an event like this? This is not unfamiliar, I know, to you. I know it may not be wildfire season per se in this part of the world, but so many residents will be relatively familiar with these sort of awful conditions. What can people do ahead of time? Well, the one thing we're trying to impress on our community is that there is no longer a season for wildfires. The last few that we've had that were really intense were this time of year. So we have to get rid of that notion. But as far as for preparation, we ask that people have a go kit. They know where they're going to go. They communicate with their families where to go. And there's a lot of resources, especially on the Redside websites. And also we have an app that they can load to their phone that gives them alerts, emergency alerts and also advises them on how to be prepared. How are those 70 who are currently sleeping there in the dorm? Of course, it is early morning, not even light at this point, just after six o'clock in the morning. Well, the people that I've met that came in, they were very rattled and shocked. And we are just trying to give them the support that they need. Pretty much we just got them settled into their sleep area and made sure that they had food and water. And, you know, I think as the sun comes up, we'll have a better idea of the needs of people and the questions they have. Right now, some of them are trying to connect with family that they haven't been able to reach. There's a lot of power outages. So we are here. Our team is just trying to answer all the immediate needs, top of which is safety for everyone seeking it.

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Climate Crisis

LA Wildfires