Nearly 30 American Red Cross volunteers, community partners and local supporters gathered at Casa Gateway before heading into the Pacific Palisades community for a day of preparedness activities. Together, they shared a common mission: helping neighbors become better prepared, better informed and better equipped to stay safe during future emergencies. (Photos by Mimi Teller/American Red Cross).
Mimi Teller/American Red Cross
For many residents of Casa Gateway in Pacific Palisades, home is more than an affordable housing community for adults 62 and older. It is a place where neighbors have built friendships, shared milestones and supported one another for years, and in some cases, decades.
That sense of community was on full display during Casa Gateway's Emergency Preparedness Day, held in conjunction with Global Wellness Day. Spearheaded by American Red Cross board member and Pacific Palisades resident Josie Tong, the event brought together residents, community partners and volunteers to help strengthen preparedness and support ongoing recovery efforts following the 2025 Palisades fire and subsequent rainstorms that left mud and debris throughout the area.
For some residents, the disasters brought periods of isolation and uncertainty. The event offered an opportunity to reconnect with neighbors, access preparedness resources and take practical steps to stay safe.
"As a Pacific Palisades resident, I wanted to make sure some of our most vulnerable neighbors knew they weren't forgotten," said Tong. "Older adults can face unique challenges during and after disasters, and this event was an opportunity to bring resources, support and a sense of connection directly to the people who need it most."
A key component of the event was the Ready Your LA Neighborhood, or RYLAN, program. Developed by the City of Los Angeles, RYLAN provides free resources, tools and workshops to help families and neighborhoods prepare for disasters and emergencies. Throughout the morning, residents learned practical steps they can take to strengthen their preparedness, build neighborhood connections and develop plans for future emergencies.
The effort extended beyond the RYLAN training. Nearly 30 American Red Cross volunteers dispersed throughout complex to provide home fire safety education, check existing smoke alarms and install free smoke alarms in homes that lacked them or needed updated equipment. Volunteers also shared simple steps residents can take to reduce fire risk and develop a home fire escape plan.
The event was made possible through collaboration with community partners, including Restore Church LA and SoCalGas. Together, they helped create a welcoming environment where residents could build preparedness skills, strengthen community connections and gain confidence for whatever challenges may come next.
For longtime residents of Casa Gateway, the day served as a reminder that resilience is built not only through planning, but through neighbors, volunteers and community partners coming together to support one another.
If you would like to prepare your home and family for the worst, visit redcross.org/prepare.
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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