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CNN Live Today

Interview with American Red Cross

Aired October 28, 2003 - 10:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to go ahead and bring in right now a woman with the American Red Cross. We talked with her yesterday, and joining us now, Gale, the information I've been given that you, yourself, are now an evacuee.
GAYLE FALKENTHAL, AMERICAN RED CROSS: I actually was several hours after the worst of the fire start. I was woken up very, very early in the morning and got to one of our first large shelters, which is about 50 miles east of my home, which is in the Scripps Ranch area, the hardest-hit single neighborhood. I never would have imagined in a million years it would have traveled in just a few hours to the brink of my house. My husband is also a Red Cross volunteer, so nobody was home, and like a lot of people, my only, one and only immediate concern was my beloved boxer dog who was there, and three of the first family members we called could not get to the area to get him out. Thankfully, my sister-in-law rescued him safely. And it was not until last night that I got to see my home again.

KAGAN: So your home is in the Scripps Ranch area?

FALKENTHAL: Yes, it is.

KAGAN: And you know for sure you're able to see -- I'm sorry -- you've seen it, and you know that your home is one of the ones that survived?

FALKENTHAL: It survived. I was there last night. It's a mess, I can tell you that. I can't even describe the hill behind my house looks -- everything here looks like we are black and white photographs, because of the ash and smoke. That's the best way I can describe it.

KAGAN: Well, and given the fate of many of your neighbors, I think at this point, you'll take the mess.

FALKENTHAL: You bet I will. It's astonishing to think that a third of your immediate neighborhood is just gone. It's amazing.

KAGAN: So interesting to talk to you for two reasons. One, as you said, this is a situation you face on a personal level. But also as a Red Cross volunteer, you're still there helping people who still are not sure about the fate of their homes?

FALKENTHAL: It is so unfortunate. You know, the not knowing I think is so terrible. That it's part of the reason that it's so important for the Red Cross to attend not only the people physical needs for safety, but their emotional needs as well to offer crisis counseling, even as something as simple as a hug and a shoulder. The physical damage lasts, but it can be fixed. The emotional damage can last a long, long time, and we do our best to address that.

KAGAN: And as we continue to show people, our viewers our live pictures of fires that continue to burn out of control, 12 major fires burning in Southern California. People who are doing work like you, Gayle Falkenthal, with the American Red Cross, so important, as important as the firefighters who are out there.

So thank you. Congratulations on your home surviving this incredible crisis here in Southern California. Appreciate your time. We'll let you get back to the people who need your help even more than we do at this point.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 28, 2003 - 10:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to go ahead and bring in right now a woman with the American Red Cross. We talked with her yesterday, and joining us now, Gale, the information I've been given that you, yourself, are now an evacuee.
GAYLE FALKENTHAL, AMERICAN RED CROSS: I actually was several hours after the worst of the fire start. I was woken up very, very early in the morning and got to one of our first large shelters, which is about 50 miles east of my home, which is in the Scripps Ranch area, the hardest-hit single neighborhood. I never would have imagined in a million years it would have traveled in just a few hours to the brink of my house. My husband is also a Red Cross volunteer, so nobody was home, and like a lot of people, my only, one and only immediate concern was my beloved boxer dog who was there, and three of the first family members we called could not get to the area to get him out. Thankfully, my sister-in-law rescued him safely. And it was not until last night that I got to see my home again.

KAGAN: So your home is in the Scripps Ranch area?

FALKENTHAL: Yes, it is.

KAGAN: And you know for sure you're able to see -- I'm sorry -- you've seen it, and you know that your home is one of the ones that survived?

FALKENTHAL: It survived. I was there last night. It's a mess, I can tell you that. I can't even describe the hill behind my house looks -- everything here looks like we are black and white photographs, because of the ash and smoke. That's the best way I can describe it.

KAGAN: Well, and given the fate of many of your neighbors, I think at this point, you'll take the mess.

FALKENTHAL: You bet I will. It's astonishing to think that a third of your immediate neighborhood is just gone. It's amazing.

KAGAN: So interesting to talk to you for two reasons. One, as you said, this is a situation you face on a personal level. But also as a Red Cross volunteer, you're still there helping people who still are not sure about the fate of their homes?

FALKENTHAL: It is so unfortunate. You know, the not knowing I think is so terrible. That it's part of the reason that it's so important for the Red Cross to attend not only the people physical needs for safety, but their emotional needs as well to offer crisis counseling, even as something as simple as a hug and a shoulder. The physical damage lasts, but it can be fixed. The emotional damage can last a long, long time, and we do our best to address that.

KAGAN: And as we continue to show people, our viewers our live pictures of fires that continue to burn out of control, 12 major fires burning in Southern California. People who are doing work like you, Gayle Falkenthal, with the American Red Cross, so important, as important as the firefighters who are out there.

So thank you. Congratulations on your home surviving this incredible crisis here in Southern California. Appreciate your time. We'll let you get back to the people who need your help even more than we do at this point.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com