Share
The heroic rescue efforts of YAI staff in Lodi, California helped safely relocate four children who live at the Davis Road community crisis home (CCH) after heavy rain and extensive flooding on December 31 made the residence uninhabitable.
Staff at Davis Road worked swiftly to evacuate the children, who range in ages from nine to 17, from the home and bring them to Empire Avenue CCH, another YAI residence 80 miles away. The team, headed by Joe Cashel, Assistant Director of Residential Services and Steven Toal, Program Administrator of Davis CCH, drove the residents the hour and a half to the new home. Erwin Higueros, Program Administrator of Empire Avenue CCH, helped receive the group.
Empire Avenue CCH already received fire clearance and is currently pending licensing. The home is fully equipped with supplies, equipment, and emergency kits needed to properly care for the children.
“The staff really showed heroism and worked together as a team to make sure the dangerous situation was handled carefully – their efforts meant a lot to us,” said Cheryl Karran, Regional Director of California.
Flooding started at Davis Road CCH around 7:00 am and quickly worsened throughout the morning. By 1:30 pm staff had smoothly relocated the residents. In addition to the flooding that damaged the home, three trees also fell on the property, one of them blocking the gate to the entrance.
“YAI is currently in the process of assessing the damage at Davis Road CCH and will work as swiftly as we can to repair any damage caused by this critical community emergency and get the children back home,” said Karran.