Skip to header Skip to main content Skip to footer
Helpful Village logo
Add me to your mailing list
Youtube channel Instagram page Facebook page
Header image for Pasadena Village showing nearby mountains and the logo of the Pasadena Village
Villager Log-in
Donate

Blog archive

March 2025

About Senior Solutions
03/28/2025

Building a Bridge With Journey House, A Home Base for Former Foster Youth
03/28/2025

Come for the Knitting, Stay for the Conversation... and the Cookies
03/28/2025

Creating Safe and Smart Spaces with Home Technology
03/28/2025

Finding Joy in My Role on The Pasadena Village Board
03/28/2025

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
03/28/2025

Managing Anxiety
03/28/2025

Message from Our President: Keeping Pasadena Village Strong Together
03/28/2025

My Favorite Easter Gift
03/28/2025

The Hidden History of Black Women in WWII
03/28/2025

Urinary Tract Infection – Watch Out!
03/28/2025

Volunteer Coordinator and Blade-Runner
03/28/2025

Continuing Commitment to Combating Racism
03/26/2025

Status - March 20, 2025
03/20/2025

Goodbye and Keep Cold by Robert Frost
03/13/2025

What The Living Do by Marie Howe
03/13/2025

Racism is Not Genetic
03/11/2025

Bill Gould, The First
03/07/2025

THIS IS A CHAPTER, NOT MY WHOLE STORY
03/07/2025

Dramatic Flair: Villagers Share their Digital Art
03/03/2025

Empowering Senior LGBTQ+ Caregivers
03/03/2025

A Life Never Anticipated
03/02/2025

Eaton Fire Changes Life
03/02/2025

February 2025

Commemorating Black History Month 2025
02/28/2025

Transportation at the Pasadena Village
02/28/2025

A Look at Proposition 19
02/27/2025

Behind the Scenes: Understanding the Pasadena Village Board and Its Role
02/27/2025

Beyond and Within the Village: The Power of One
02/27/2025

Celebrating Black Voices
02/27/2025

Creatively Supporting Our Village Community
02/27/2025

Decluttering: More Than The Name Implies
02/27/2025

Hidden Gems of Forest Lawn Museum
02/27/2025

LA River Walk
02/27/2025

Message from the President
02/27/2025

Phoenix Rising
02/27/2025

1619 Conversations with West African Art
02/25/2025

The Party Line
02/24/2025

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski
02/17/2025

Dreams by Langston Hughes
02/17/2025

Haiku - Four by Fritzie
02/17/2025

Haikus - Nine by Virginia
02/17/2025

Wind and Fire
02/17/2025

Partnerships Amplify Relief Efforts
02/07/2025

Another Community Giving Back
02/05/2025

Diary of Disaster Response
02/05/2025

Eaton Fire: A Community United in Loss and Recovery
02/05/2025

Healing Powers of Creative Energy
02/05/2025

Living the Mission
02/05/2025

Message from the President: Honoring Black History Month
02/05/2025

Surviving and Thriving: Elder Health Considerations After the Fires
02/05/2025

Treasure Hunting in The Ashes
02/05/2025

Villager's Stories
02/05/2025

A Beginning of Healing
02/03/2025

Hectic Evacuation From Eaton Canyon Fire
02/02/2025

Hurricanes and Fires are Different Monsters
02/02/2025

January 2025

Diary of Disaster Response

By Suzi Hoge
Posted: 02/05/2025
Tags: suzi hoge, la fires, newsletter february 2025, eaton fire

“Community is a cornerstone of both individual wellness and collective well-being in the best of times. Now, friends, neighbors and an army of Los Angeles volunteers are proving that community is a powerful tonic in the worst.”

- Rachel Kraus, L.A. Times

The Pasadena Village has been meeting the unexpected needs of its members since the Eaton Fire began, the night of Tuesday, January 7, 2025. 

On Monday, January 6, the normal “Your Week at the Village” arrived via email.  Folks began preparing for above normal, very highly above normal, winds that were predicted along with the threat of fire. The winds picked up on January 7th and intensity increased as the night wore on.  At approximately 6:00 p.m. the Eaton Fire erupted in Eaton Canyon.

Pasadena Village and its members began communicating and connecting as the fire spread rapidly. Linda Stowitts called to offer a spare room to Sue Kujawa if needed.  Sue shared, “It was a relief to have it offered to me. I felt it helped me evacuate earlier.” It turns out that Sue was able to evacuate with her cat and is now staying with Linda and Tom since her house was totally destroyed.

On January 8th, the morning after the fire started, the first email went out from Pasadena Village – titled “Are You Ok?”  Members were asked to respond if they were OK and to let the office know where they were staying.  A request for volunteers was included so that all members could be contacted to check on everybody --- or to provide needed services.

The following day an email went out to set up a Zoom Meeting for Friday, January 10th.  It also included a listing of Relief Resources and announced the Fire Relief Fund – with a matching grant of $5,000 from one member. 

On Friday, January 10th the first gift cards for immediate needs went out to members who had lost homes and/or were evacuated.  The check in Zoom meeting was held. Katie Brandon, Pasadena Village Executive Director, reported that many members had lost their homes – estimating at least 17 at that time, with many more members having to evacuate and remain out of their homes. The names of the members who had not connected to the village yet were shared. Members could report on the status of many of them. Other folks volunteered to contact the remainder.  

During the weekend Pasadena Village staff members and volunteers continued to work, checking on members, contacting others, arranging rides, purchasing needed items. 

On Wednesday, January 15, one neighborhood group, Triple Zips, decided to carry on with the potluck they had planned. Some members who had lost their homes also attended. People really appreciated seeing each other, sharing their stories of that scary night, offering support, and eating lots of wonderful food. Later that afternoon a Check-In Zoom Gathering was held. A PDF list of Villager phone numbers was provided. It was suggested that individual Villagers determine whether planned activities would continue – and whether in person or Zoom. The Village’s Zoom link was offered to anyone needing it. 

The weekly Friday Bulletin went out on January 17th. Villagers in need, either who lost their homes or who had evacuated, were asked to compile lists of items they needed. Two staff members continued to add helpful information onto the AgingSGV.org Relief resource page. 

The Village President, Dick Myers sent an email message to all members on Saturday, January 18, which also established a new blog called President Fire Info. 

On January 21st, the regular Pasadena Village Board Meeting convened. Discussion of the relief money flowing in and distribution of additional gift cards was included in the agenda. 

The Village Friday Bulletin included offers of help to fellow Village members, including Wayne April who offered to accompany folks to see the remains of their homes and sift ashes if needed.

On Monday, January 27, a general group of folks who were working on or who wanted to help with Fire Relief met. Villagers and Board members shared information about members, programs, resources and needs. The group then shifted into volunteering for various tasks such as delivering air purifiers or forming a committee to help design a binder system to organize paperwork. 

Projects and support continue to expand and evolve. Air purifiers are being delivered. Lost House File Systems have been shared with the Village and will be distributed. A computerized list of offered items is being compiled so when Villagers are settled and ready they can review the list for available items. Individual Villagers are offering to attend meetings with insurance companies and other agencies. 

Pasadena Village is indeed offering the support only a village can provide. 

 

*To See More Experiences With The Fire, Click on #LAFires

Blogs Topics Posts about this Topic