By Emily Hache/American Red Cross
When Donatella Braghieri moved to Lomita, CA in 2023, she never expected to need the services of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT), a service similar to what she once provided as a volunteer with the British Red Cross (BRC) in Scotland.
For seven years, Donatella worked with the BRC as part of their Fire Emergency Support Services team (FESS). Like DAT in American, FESS is comprised of specially trained volunteers who respond to home fires and other disasters.
In March of 2024, less than six months after purchasing her Lomita condominium, a kitchen fire broke out in Donatella’s complex. The fire spread through the building’s attic, threatening multiple units. Donatella escaped the burning building with little more than her service dog and the clothes on her back. In the end, the fire damaged or destroyed 21 homes in the complex.
The night of the fire, the Red Cross deployed five responders, whose first tasks were to find shelter for the displaced residents and provide immediate needs. In the following days, the Red Cross continued its support by partnering with our community partners and the Rolling Hills Covenant Church, who hosted a resource fair—a tabletop-style event where displaced residents could access services and support, including temporary housing, replace vital documents and receive donations of food, clothing and other necessities.
For Donatella, it wasn’t just the material assistance that made a difference, it was the compassion, understanding and ongoing emotional support that helped her through the trauma of losing her home.
“It felt like having friends all around and everybody was so understanding and compassionate,” Donatella shared. “Obviously it was a very bad situation for everybody, but having the Red Cross there made it infinitely better, because you felt like you weren't alone.”
Donatella's experience serves as a powerful reminder of the crucial role Red Cross and its volunteers play in helping people recover from disasters. She encourages everyone to volunteer.
“To be able to count on people to be there for you, to answer your questions, to let you cry, whatever you need to do when you're in a crisis, is invaluable. It matters. It’s a wonderful thing to be there for another human being.”
To learn more about the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and how you can help people impacted by disaster visit redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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