Red Cross provides support to San Vicente fire victims

A couple and their two grandchildren lost their home in San Vicente Village on Isa Drive to a fire early Monday morning. (Contributed Photo)

The American Red Cross-NMI Chapter has stepped in to assist a family that lost many of their personal belongings to a fire that hit a house in San Vicente Village on Isa Drive early Monday morning.

According to NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh yesterday, they provided the victims–Sonny Flores, his wife Annie, and their two grandchildren–with food and clothing.

“That morning our disaster response team visited the victims and provided help to the victims and we also provided financial assistance,” Hirsh said.

“The following morning [yesterday] we provided assistance again and we also provided accommodations and put the family in a hotel,” he added.

According to Hirsh, the family will be staying at the hotel for a small period of time to give them a little “breathing room.”

Hirsh said they might be providing the victims a month’s rent in an apartment so the family could figure out a long-term plan on what to do next.

“In this case, our engagement with the family will be a little longer and if they need more we will try our best to assist them,” Hirsh said.

He said the reason for the longer engagement with the family is because the damage was a total loss for the family.

“They lost all personal belongings and went through a tragic situation so if we can assist them financially and/or mentally—because it is also an emotional situation—we would,” Hirsh said.

He said they had also recommended to the family to see mental health officers that would help the family cope with the situation they are going through.

“It is an offer that is part of our case management and provide them more support if they need it,” he said.

Meanwhile, ARC also provided assistance to responders that took part in the search for a drowning victim over the weekend on Forbidden Island. Food and snacks were provided to the rescuers and responders during the search.

“Our disaster response team is always out there to assist the victims if they are in need and particularly fire, the Fire Division would reach out to us and our team would immediately respond to help and assist the family in need,” Hirsh said.

In a separate statement, the NMI Chapter said it is just grateful that no one was hurt in Monday’s fire.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of our generous donors and community which gives us the means and resources needed to continue the Red Cross Mission of providing hope and relief to victims of disasters,” said Paul W. Camacho, Emergency Services Director of the American Red Cross.

For information regarding the Red Cross, contact Camacho at 670-234-3459.