Verdugo Hills High School

All Red Cross shelters for the Station Fire were closed on 9/7/09.

An RC Service Center was open for folks in Lake View Terrace Mon.-Wed. (9/7-9/9/09) but none are expected to open again for this incident per my RC contact.

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Two Shelters Remain Open for Wildfire Evacuees
Sept. 4, 4:00 p.m - Two American Red Cross shelters remain open for wildfire evacuees. The Red Cross has provided overnight stays for more than 700 people at seven shelters since wildfires first erupted on Aug. 27.

Nearly 500 Red Cross volunteers from throughout California have assisted residents during the wildfires, providing : 5,100 meals, 8,600 snacks, 525 comfort kits (containing a toothbrush and other personal hygiene items) and dozens of clean-up kits (containing a broom, mop and other cleaning supplies). Red Cross volunteers are now assessing damage in areas where homes were destroyed to verify the need for future Red Cross services.

The following shelters continue to be open for wildfire evacuees:

Golden Valley High School
27051 Robert C. Lee Parkway
Newhall, CA 91350

Verdugo Hills High School
10625 Plainview Avenue
Tujunga, CA 91042

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LTel 8/30/09:

I visited this shelter site today. There were very few people populating it though they had 17 people stay overnight.

At the time I was there, mandatory evacuations had gone into effect and over the next hours it was expanded further. This is a very active part of the fire at this time.

Right after I arrived, Verizon showed up to set up a mini-internet cafe. The shelter residents and RC volunteers (and me) all cheered and thanked them for this great service to these folks.

The shelter was well staffed, equipped, air-conditioned and comfortable and the mood was positive.

Flames in many different spots and a very apocolyptic cloud of smoke could be seen from the location just about a half mile away but air drops were hitting it hard.

The volunteer staff was thrilled to take down our information to help with pet sheltering referrals for evacuee's. Many people didn't know where to take their animals and County Animal Services is about maxed out.

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This shelter is urgently seeking RED CROSS TRAINED ONLY VOLUNTEERS in the following capacities:

Public Affairs
Shelter Service Associates
Shelter Supervisors
Health Services
Disaster Mental Health
Govt Liaison
Canteen

8/29/09 7:11 pm LTel:

Another shelter serving evacuee's of the Station Wildfire is being opened by the Red Cross this evening.