Tonight's speaker is the co-founder of ThomasFireHelp.org. The Thomas Fire was a recent and extraordinary fire in Ventura, CA that burned 281,893 acres. 1,063 structures were destroyed and 280 structures were damaged. Many homes were lost and the value in damages were in the multi-millions. Subsequently, the area had a large amount of rain fall that caused major flooding and mudslides. Many lives were lost and more structures were destroyed. The area was in need of immediate and desparate help.
This is when Emily Barany jumped into action and co-founded Thomas Fire Help. ThomasFireHelp.org connects help with need on a grassroots level. It is an online platform where fire and mudslide survivors can quickly find what they need, from initial food and shelter to longer term needs like housing, goods, and services. Thomas Fire Help built a central hub for resources, so survivors can connect with the help they need in one location.
Emily wanted to remind us that although the Fire and Mudslide events were nearly 8 months ago, there is still a need for displaced, homeless, and jobless people to connect with people who can help.