By Ray Birch
SANTA ROSA, Calif.—Robin McKenzie says she’ll never forget fireman and police waking her family in the middle of the night on Oct. 8 telling them to leave their home due to threats from raging wildfires.
“This fire is unprecedented,” said the SVP of marketing and communications at Redwood CU here. “This experience has been overwhelming. And that night—the fear and stress—I have never felt anything like that before. We were just grabbing things as quickly as we could, but we could not take much; there was no time.”
Fortunately for McKenzie, her home has been spared from the massive wildfires that have scorched more than 182,000 acres and killed at least 40 people.
“The saddest part of all in this is that so many people’s lives have been lost and lives destroyed. Three minutes away from my home there are entire neighborhoods that are gone and so many friends who have lost everything,” said McKenzie.
McKenzie said that as the fires still burn there is no way to yet know how many members have been impacted. She said the credit union is aware of the number of employees who have suffered loss from the fires, but is not releasing that information.
“We are currently working with our employees to help them in any way we can,” said McKenzie. “We are assisting them in a variety of ways. We are doing the same for our members.”
Special Assistance
The $3.5-billion credit union has assembled a special financial assistance and loan program for members.
“This is a disaster of a magnitude we have never seen before. Governor Jerry Brown has called it the worst disaster in the history of California. The credit union is fortunate that all of its 17 locations have been spared, but unfortunately we can’t say the same for others—so many homes of our employees and members have been lost, as well as many businesses have been burned.”
McKenzie said that most credit union offices were open for business on Oct. 10, except those still in areas of mandatory evacuation or those without power.
In partnership with Senator Mike McGuire (D-2nd District), Redwood CU has established a fund to help fire victims in the area.
“We have raised $4.3 million in less than week, and we are already distributing funds to local food centers and food banks to get emergency food out to the fire victims. Funds are also going to local non-profits that are placing people in shelters and housing,” said McKenzie. “We are also working with the office of education across four counties providing money for school kids. Many schools are still not open.”
Weather Change
McKenzie is hoping that the weather changing to calmer conditions will help firefighters contain the blazes.
“This is catastrophic disaster that we are helping our employees, members and communities get through. But it is still unfolding. Firefighters do feel they are finally making gains on the fires. We are very anxious to have this fully contained, but we are not at that point yet. Through this all I have seen kindness, strength and heroism the likes I have never seen before. This community is rising up and helping each other.”