Palmerton woman assists those displaced by California wildfires

Pepper Klitsch didn’t get to enjoy Thanksgiving with her family this year. She knew it was more important for her to be in Northern California with those displaced by a deadly wildfire.

Klitsch, of Palmerton, is a duty officer with the American Red Cross. She is one of 11 volunteers from Northeast Pennsylvania who flew out to assist with relief efforts.

She arrived at a fairgrounds in Yuba, California, on Tuesday to volunteer providing aid for evacuees from the Camp Fire wildfire.

“We’re away from our families too, but we’re here on a mission. Our families understand. We have a home to go home to when we go home. These people do not,” Klitsch said.

Klitsch spent Thanksgiving with the hundreds of evacuees who have come to the fairgrounds for a place to stay. Some people are checked into a shelter, while others refuse to leave their RVs.

For many people, the belongings they brought to the fairgrounds are all they have left because their homes in the Paradise area have been destroyed by fire.

“Their house burned down, but they have their RV. I would want to stay in the RV instead of the shelter, too,” Pepper said.

So far 84 people have been confirmed dead in the Camp Fire. Some victims were found beneath the rubble of the town of Paradise, and others died in their vehicles fleeing the fire.

Each day, officials with California’s state firefighting agency update a map at the shelter showing the progress in fighting the fire.

With rains in the area on Friday, the evacuees got the welcome news that the fire was now 95 percent contained. It has since been 100 percent contained.

The evacuees are physically and emotionally drained from the ordeal. The Red Cross is helping by providing food, shelter, and some money to help them cover basic expenses.

But the most important support, Klitsch said, is emotional. Many of the evacuees are traumatized about losing their homes, belongings and pets.

“I sit there and I listen. I give them support, let them know that everything is going to be OK,” she said. “Just let them talk, and they will.”

The fairgrounds is located far enough from the fire that they are not feeling any direct impact. It has electric for RVs, and good cell reception. They even have a shelter for animals that are displaced.

Klitsch is staying at another shelter set up nearby for Red Cross volunteers. Each morning, they head off to different shelters set up around the area to help evacuees.

The Red Cross’ main goal there is to help people move forward. However in order to move on, evacuees have to get in touch with FEMA. The Federal agency arrived in Yuba shortly after Klitsch did, getting evacuees signed up for hotel vouchers which will allow them to get more stability back in their lives. But it will take several days before they are all taken care of.

“Our role is to help them move forward. The goal is to get them out of the shelter,” she said.

Klitsch is planning to remain in California until Dec. 4, when she will return to Palmerton. Her husband, John, who is also a duty officer with the Red Cross, has had to stay home to take care of the family’s animals. When Pepper returns, he will head to California to do his part.

Pepper said that the Camp Fire has been just as devastating as the other disasters where she has provided relief — like Hurricane Harvey or Hurricane Florence. Oftentimes the emotions will remain even after she has returned home to Palmerton, when she thinks about the people she helped, and how they aren’t able to return home.

“It really makes you appreciate life a whole lot more. And helping these people is what I live for,” Klitsch said.