Twice, as the fire began to descend the hillside, we thought we
were going to have to evacuate our location within a two-hour
window. We were constantly trying to work out how to run the
relief effort, while figuring out how and where we would go if
we had to leave.
Coincidentally, I met and introduced two incredible Topanga
neighbors, Ashley DeLuis and Candice Belton, who originally
didn't know each other but became united as a powerhouse of
resources and management for volunteer efforts and means
toward benefiting Topanga residents. Because Topanga is a
non-incorporated city, there was no organized support effort
in their area. Through the unlikely synchronicity of this team
introduction, Topanga REACH (topangareach.org) was founded.
REACH stands for Relief, Emergency Aid & Community Help. This
nonprofit was established in record time and now offers a plethora
of resources on their website, including links to assistance and
important articles like "A Survivor's Guide to FEMA" and "Smoke
Remediation" and "Wildfire Recovery." This is a long-term project
that is continuing education and training for both residents and
volunteers, changing the course of the community effort for all
future actions needed within the Topanga Canyon Region. When a
crisis hits, send a location manager—send a Spartan!
I went home every night exhausted, but I'm ready to do it again.
Little did I know that just pulling over into a random parking
lot and saying, "Hi, I'm a Teamster location manager, how can I
help?" would lead to this.
JN: As I researched this article and listened to each of my
colleagues describe their experiences, I was in awe of their
courage and their resolve to "flourish when frail." Each one
"WHEN A CRISIS HITS, SEND A LOCATION
MANAGER—SEND A SPARTAN!"
–ALM J.P. LORELLO/LMGI
brought me to tears. Each one, whether in rescue or recovery,
is a hero. Now, more than ever, I believe what I always knew.
To be of service is in our location manager DNA.
Disaster relief is ongoing for victims of the LA fires. Here
are a few where you can help, either through joining
volunteer efforts or contributing to the cause:
https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/
volunteer
https://www.topangareach.org/
http://Scoutphotos.org
https://jazzyjamforempowerment.org/
https://zellosupport.com/
Author Jill Naumann/LMGI has been a location manager/
scout/key assistant in Southern California since 1994.
She has served with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team
on three deployments for Texas floods and Southern
California Fires since 2018, specializing in Shelter
Supervisor, Emergency Vehicle's First Entry, Distribution
of Emergency Supplies and Warehouse Management.
Jill Naumann/LMGI and friend
