On Wednesday, November 6, the Red Cross was asked to open a Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) in Jackson for the Shotgun Wildfire burning through hundreds of acres in Ocean County. At that time, multiple homes were in danger and several residences were asked to evacuate. As a precaution, other homes in this Jackson community were under voluntarily evacuation as well.

The Red Cross Disaster Action Team, followed by a Shelter Strike Team, set up the temporary evacuation point at the Jackson Senior Center, providing food, snacks, beverages and comfort. Families and pets sought refuge from smokey conditions as they awaited the outcome. A plan to open a temporary shelter for residents was in place. However, residents were allowed to return to their homes late Wednesday evening and the TEP was closed.

In addition, the Red Cross provided support through canteen services from our Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) to the volunteer firefighters and other first responders who were battling the fire.

The Red Cross provided 200 sandwiches, along with various snacks and beverages during the duration of the response.

The Red Cross is dedicated to alleviating the suffering of those affected by disasters. We work closely with local emergency management teams and our community partners to coordinate relief efforts. Trained Red Cross volunteers and employees are on call around-the-clock and ready to assist in aspects such as providing shelter, meals, disaster assessment, resources and more.

WILDFIRE SAFETY

As conditions are heightened for wildfires in New Jersey, the Red Cross is urging families to take action now to be ready. Families may need to evacuate quickly with little notice and should create a family plan that includes how they’ll stay connected with each other, where they’ll go, how they’ll get there, and where they’ll stay. People should sign up for free emergency alerts from local government, which will include important information such as evacuation orders in an emergency.

A wildfire can spread very quickly, leaving you little time to get to safety. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and obey all evacuation orders from officials.

• Back your car into the garage or park it outside, facing the direction of your evacuation route.
• Keep your pets in one room, so you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly.
• Limit exposure to smoke and dust. Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.
• Don’t use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves.

To learn more about wildfire safety, visit redcross.org/Wildfires