** October 24, 2007 7pm California time **

Last night on behalf of 911 CARES, I sent out the e-mail listed below. In less than 12 hours, we have been flooded with offers to help in Southern California. At this time, there are no needs for volunteer 9-1-1 professionals. The evacuation centers are also well staffed with locals. I did want to share the e-mail we sent out to California Dispatch professionals and some of the many responses we have received.

Many of the mandatory evacuations are being lifted over the next 3-4 days and families will be returning to see what is left. We have a strong group of fellow dispatchers that wil let us know if our bothers and sisters have lost their homes. We promise to keep you updated.

Sent October 23, 2007 at 2300 CA Time

Dear Friends,

As you know, Southern California is in the middle of battling a network of fires. These dramatic fires are causing unprecedented evacuations and are taxing the resources of Fire, Police and EMS.

Behind consoles statewide are professional call takers, dispatchers, EMD's, Supervisors, technicians and an amazing variety of "9-1-1 professionals".

911 CARES is waiting to see how we can help various dispatch centers or individual dispatchers that may have lost their homes.

This e-mail is for two basic reasons:

1: If you are in Southern California, please keep your ears open for any losses that affect any 9-1-1 professional. Call 911 CARES at 800-348-8911 x 105. Call 24 hours a day and we will do what we can do to help. You can also e-mail kevin@pstc911.com

If any dispatch professional has a loss of property, we will offer help to them. (Once the fires are over, we will offer de-briefings as needed and appreciation for sure)

2: As a California 9-1-1 professional myself, I want to join the team at PSTC and 911 CARES to send praise and support for all of you that are working the events. Whether you are working in the field as an Incident Dispatcher, in your communications center or volunteering at evacuations centers, we THANK YOU for your dedication and commitment to life and property.

Though you are probably to busy to "connect" with the outside beyond your work responsibilities, please know that the media is consistently calling all public safety workers "heroes" and you share that title. Please take a moment to smile at your communications co-workers or pat the back of a field responder.

PLEASE, If your dispatch center is being "forgotten" in the shuffle of these devastating fires and you need volunteer call takers, dispatchers or food delivery, let us know. If you need supplies or emotional support, just call or e-mail. If there is any need that you have, let us know.

For central and northern California dispatchers; please keep your brother and sister dispatchers to the south in your heart and prayers. If we are notified of ANY needs, we will send out an e-mail blast.

On behalf of the team at PSTC and 911 CARES, we honor and salute the many 9-1-1 professionals working the many fires.

Kevin Willett
800-348-8911 x102
kevin@pstc911.com

Hello Kevin,

Thanks for all you are doing for the 9-1-1 families. We have one dispatcher who was evacuated on Monday from the Green Valley Lake area. She was at work at the time of the evacuation and her husband was only able to get some documents out.  They won’t know (1-2 weeks) until the fire is out, the roads are open if there house was lost. The last they heard was that the house across the way was on fire. I just wanted to give you a heads up on a possible activation. I will let you know for sure when I get the word. For know, our dispatcher and her family are staying together in the rented unit she has close to work. Our department is assisting her with immediate needs. Once again, thanks to you and the 9-1-1 Cares organization for their willingness to assist those in need.

Gamaliel Catalan - Communications Supervisor – Alhambra, CA Police Department

911 CARES
You guys are so awesome!
From your Fountain Valley, CA Police Dispatchers.

Hey Kevin, thanks for sending this out. Just wanted to let you know all the
dispatchers here on the San Bernardino Forest are tired and challenged, but
okay. Our fires are primarily the Grass Valley and the Slide fires affecting all the mountain communities on our forest, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Green Valley, etc. Neither fire is close to containment yet and we are no where near out of the woods. I would just ask that our community and the many residents who have lost their homes are in your prayers. We are hoping to get some damage assessment teams in those areas to see just how many homes were lost. It breaks our heart for these people.
Again, thank you for thinking of us. 

Sandy Federal Fire Command – Southern California
Thank you Kevin.  Your timeliness and sincere words are truly appreciated.  

Anne Nicholls
Systems Supervisor
Long Beach Police Communications

Kevin, Thank you for your words of encouragement.  I always read these activations, and never thought we would be one of the noted groups.  The service you provide with 911 cares is very valuable to everyone in this profession.

I have one dispatcher who has not had the chance to check the status of his home.  He is in an area hard hit by the fires, and three of his neighbors have lost their homes, but do not know the status of his.  We hope and pray that his family’s will be one of the homes spared, but we will be sure to let you know if it is not.

I would write more, but I am a bit slow on the draw at the moment and am about to turn in for some much needed sleep.  Thank you for your concern.

Charlie Knust - Communications Manager - North County Dispatch JPA

Kevin,

So glad you guys are doing this!  Yesterday, I thought that I was going to lose my house to the fire… my wife was at home and left to check on the fire then Sheriff’s wouldn’t let her go back home.  One of our BC’s was out there checking on the houses for all of us that lived there but couldn’t be home.   I’m sure you can imagine how hard it was to be stuck here at work, short handed so you can’t leave, and not know if you were going to have a house to go home to!

My family is fine now, the fire has passed us but, I’m sure that some dispatchers will need help!  Especially in San Diego County! GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US!

- Sean – Veddugo Fire Communications – (Glendale, CA)

Thank you for this … as the Dispatch Supervisor on duty when the Santiago Fire started in our city on Sunday night, it was an unbelievable shift and I am so proud of how my staff performed.  The fire has moved south out of our area and we have only had to deal with hot spots but we do have many of our personnel whose homes are in the affected areas so I will forward this to my staff … thank you again, it is this kind of generosity that we definitely do not take for granted!

Jessica Abell - Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher - Irvine Police Department
(Orange County, CA)

Thank you, Kevin, for your inspirational words and offers of assistance.  I’m sure the many public safety professionals who are impacted by these horrific fires, both on the job and in their communities, greatly appreciate your generosity and recognition of their sacrifices.  Your announcements signal the need for us, as individuals, to mobilize and help wherever we can.

Daphne Rhoe, ENP - Chief, California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Office
DGS-Telecommunications Division

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