The skies were clear in Rancho Bernardo this week, but memories of a smoke-filled night in October 2007 were brought into clear focus with the massive fires in Los Angeles. One of the nightmarish aspects of the Witch Creek fire that devastated Rancho Bernardo was the inadequate preparation to provide assistance to neighbors who needed help.

To be better prepared for a future emergency, a group of community leaders are conducting  an “evacuation registry” campaign.

The communities of Seven Oaks and Oaks North have been selected as phase one communities in this process because of the concentration of seniors who live in those neighborhoods, although it is hoped that the campaign can eventually be extended throughout Rancho Bernardo.

The campaign will culminate the weekend of September 26^th when volunteers will walk door to door and phone bank to encourage registration so that people in need can be matched with neighborhood assistance. Those who would be willing to help on that day and who are 14 years old or older are asked to sign up with RB United by calling 858-485-8502 or sending an e-mail to admin@RBUnited.com ^[1]

Since the campaign was launched a few weeks ago, the response has been encouraging, according to Valerie Brown, project coordinator.  There has been a direct mail outreach program, an insertion of registry forms into community center newsletters, and the forms are available through all of the local organizations that serve seniors.

The September 26th door-to-door process is designed to contact those who have not already self-registered. It will complete the survey of Seven Oaks and Oaks North and identify those who may be in need so that help that would be needed in case of an emergency can be pre-arranged. 

The project, being funded by a grant from the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation is a joint effort of the Seven Oaks and Oaks North community centers, area service clubs including the two Rotary clubs, the Kiwanis Club and Soroptimists, organizations serving seniors such as the Ed Brown Center and RB Senior Services as well as Casa de las Campanas and Silverado. The planning group also includes representation from Seniors Helping Our Kids and the office of San Diego City Councilman, Carl DeMaio. The project is being coordinated by RB United which has evolved from a coalition formed in response to the fires to an independent non-profit organization serving the needs of the community.