PROFILE: Stories of giving abound, says Petaluma Deputy Police Chief Salizzoni

Quick response from volunteers was result of training and planning|

“The first wave of evacuees arrived at Lucchesi Park shortly after one o’clock, Monday morning,” Petaluma Deputy Police Chief and Emergency Operations Commander Tara Salizzoni recounts. “They were forced from their homes by mandatory evacuations in Napa County. We activated our EMC network, and by 3:30, 60 to 80 volunteers were offering welcomes, sleeping cots, hot coffee, bottled water and breakfasts to wave-after-wave of people.”

According to Salizzoni, this extremely quick response was the result of pre-planning, training and EMC drills.

“Our officers have assigned priorities during times like this, including mutual aid responses to Santa Rosa and other localities,” Salizzoni says. “The reason we can avert chaos (locally) is because our volunteers know exactly what to do. Their task is to help and house people in shock. Everyone is worried about their homes, businesses, families and pets. Many have nothing more than the clothes they were wearing when they were forced to evacuate. Kids are crying and wide-eyed. Parents are frantic. Dogs and cats are terrified.”

Salizzoni says that a half dozen people in the Petaluma Police Department were evacuees themselves.

“I know that two officers lost everything,” she confirms.

According to Salizzoni, Lucchesi Center was beyond capacity by 5:30 a.m., and the EOC had opened the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds.

“Because they have the space and facilities to house pets and livestock, and room to park RVs, we diverted people with motorhomes, horses, donkeys, goats and llamas to the fairgrounds,” she says. “When Lucchesi reached capacity, we began sending everyone over there.”

Eventually, the two emergency centers housed more than 1,600 people, and the Petaluma Veterans Building, the Cavanagh Center, Mystic Theater, Calvary Church and Church of Christ provided additional services and sleeping spaces for evacuees.

Petalumans responded immediately.

“They want to give and give,” Salizzoni says.

By dawn, cars loaded with blankets, food, clothing, toys and toiletries were snaking through the fairgrounds. Professional responders came as well. Tables and tents were manned by the Red Cross, insurance companies, banks, and cell-phone providers. Medical and mental health services were provided by Petaluma Valley Hospital, Sonoma West Medical Center, and the Petaluma Health Center.

Help for pets and livestock came from the Petaluma Animal Shelter, and Chanslor Ranch.

Petaluma Green Taxi offered free rides.

Copperfield’s provided free Wi-Fi.

The list goes on and on.

Late Thursday afternoon Petaluma Airport Manager Bob Patterson received a call from CalFire that since the southeast Sky Ranch Drive facility is “closest to the fires,” it would become a helicopter “attack base,” with over a dozen helicopters and firefighters from various agencies utilizing the facilities.

Of course, not everything has worked quite-so-smoothly for everyone.

Elsie, a Sonoma City octogenarian who was forced to evacuate in the “third wave” late Wednesday, says by phone, “The people at Lucchesi Park immediately classified me as ‘old lady,’ and sent me to the health center. They hadn’t any room, so I had to drive down to my son’s house” (in Contra Costa County).”

(Contact Gil Mansergh at gilmansergh@comcast.net)

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