Tag Archives: Volunteers

The Oakland Firestorm: How One Volunteer Turned Personal Tragedy into Community Service

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By Anton Ghosh, American Red Cross Volunteer

In October 1991, the Tunnel Fire tore through the Oakland Hills in California, killing 25 people and injuring 150 others. The first sign that something was wrong that day was a helicopter whirling overhead while dipping water out of Lake Temescal, recalls Matthew Fryer, who lived nearby. “I drove to investigate and saw that there was a fire on the side of the road, not far away,” he said. Eventually, a police car drove by announcing everyone had to evacuate.

Matt (left) at a Red Cross shelter with City of Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee

Matt’s girlfriend helped him pack. He jokes that she packed only the clothes she liked, “leaving my favorite velour shirt!” Matt hosed down his plants and yard until the water stopped working and they fled to his brother’s house a couple of miles away. From there, they watched the fire wreak havoc.

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When Crisis Calls, They Answer at 4 a.m. 

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By Alex Keilty, American Red Cross Volunteer

Michael “Mig” Rampa, Community Disaster Program Manager

The phone calls often come in the middle of the night—when most people are still asleep. Whether it’s the fire department, the local emergency manager or the American Red Cross headquarters on the line, the message is always urgent. There’s been an emergency. People need help. And it’s the job of the Community Disaster Program Manager (CDPM) to make sure the Red Cross is there, ready to respond. 

Michael “Mig” Rampa knows that call well. 

Around 4 a.m. this past January, his phone rang with news of a fire in an 80-unit apartment complex in Oakland, Calif. Mig, who has served as CDPM in Alameda County for about a year and a half, sprang into action. He quickly dispatched his team of volunteers to the scene. When they arrived, the situation was already dire. They reported back: “We have 40 people already that are on the corner that have nowhere to go.” 

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Bringing Comfort and Hope Through Spiritual Care from the American Red Cross 

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Reflections by Cindy Huge, American Red Cross Volunteer

I frequently think of you, Isaiah*, and feel grateful that our paths crossed.

On the evening of October 9, 2024, you were sitting alone on a cot in a hallway, with just one small bag holding the few belongings you had left. The shelter, filled with nearly 500 people displaced by Hurricane Milton, was too noisy for you to sleep. The Category 3 hurricane had just made landfall on Siesta Key, Florida.

I approached you, introduced myself, and invited you to have lunch with me. That simple invitation became the beginning of a meaningful connection.

American Red Cross volunteer Cindy Huge. Photo courtesy of Cindy Huge.
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A Community United after Tragedy in Oakland 

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Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee visited the Oakland shelter to meet those affected by the fire. Photographer: Chris Raponi | American Red Cross

By: Carolina Dratva, American Red Cross Volunteer

When I arrived at a shelter in Oakland, Calif., set up in the wake of a devastating apartment fire, I immediately noticed a young girl. She was no older than 13 and was caring for her six-month-old sister, the youngest resident in the shelter. I could only imagine the fear and uncertainty they must have experienced after being forced to evacuate a fire so severe that it left approximately 70 people displaced and sent four people to the hospital.

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National Award Recognizes Local Disaster Responder 

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By Alex Keilty, American Red Cross Volunteer 

How does one American Red Cross award recipient know her volunteer work is helping people?

Jody loading up a trunk with free smoke alarms

“It’s the look of relief when someone realizes they have a safe place to go, when a family gets the help they need to take their next step, or when someone who has lost so much realizes they aren’t facing it alone,” Red Cross Volunteer Jody Kimbrel says. Jody has seen that relieved expression on people’s faces countless times while responding to 70 major disasters, including Hurricane Helene and wildfires in Maui and California.

In recognition of her efforts, Jody was awarded the Bob Hassmiller Excellence in Disaster Services Award in Washington, D.C. in April this year. This national level award celebrates a volunteer who has made a significant, positive impact on the American Red Cross, the community and the people we serve in the areas of disaster preparedness, response, or recovery.

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In the Wake of a Devastating Fire, A Furry Friend Brings Hope and Comfort

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By: Julie Uiterwijk, American Red Cross volunteer  

When Sam Cisneros and Natalie Shimizu adopted Nori, they had no idea how much they would need her.  

The couple brought Nori home about a week before a massive six-alarm fire destroyed their Foster City, Calif. condominium on August 2. The fire severely damaged the Spinnaker Cove complex, displacing more than 150 residents and leaving Sam and Natalie among the many people suddenly without a home or most of their belongings.  

Natalie and Sam with their rescue dog, Nori.  

Soon after the fire, the American Red Cross set up a Local Assistance Center in Foster City to connect families affected by the fire with local resources. Sam and Natalie benefited from the partners and community members who offered support, including the Peninsula Humane Society where they had adopted Nori before the fire.   

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