By Mike Tierney/American Red Cross 

Veteran American Red Cross volunteer Vesta Sung needed a break after recent and numerous California wildfire disaster responses; her daughter, Nathalie Sung, sought a relaxed setting before entering the home stretch of her college education. For a vacation getaway they chose Maui. The duo are regular visitors to the island, home of some of Nathalie’s aunts and uncles.

Little could the Sungs have known that three days into their stay, the nation’s deadliest wildfire in at least a century would erupt, and that their skills as Red Cross volunteers would come in handy for residents and tourists in need of a safe place to stay and a shoulder to lean on.

Nathalie shared that the pair were headed back to their hotel in the resort area of Ka’anapali after an outing, when traffic was forced to a halt by a fire. They pulled their vehicle to the side of the road where they were forced to wait for five hours.

“We saw the fire literally jump across the highway and continue,” recalled Nathalie, who is scheduled to graduate soon from Cal Poly-Pomona.

Complicating matters, she added, were winds that reached 90 mph. While the pair stood outside the vehicle, “it was knocking us around,” she said. “We had to crouch down into balls to keep from getting knocked over.”

When traffic began to move, they headed to a restaurant for two hours, then to a church shelter for three more and finally wound up at a designated Red Cross shelter at Maui High School.

Nathalie’s primary Red Cross experience was at first aid stations for the annual Rose Parade, solid training to be sure, but not exactly preparation for the ordeal that awaited her — the night after the wildfire broke out, approximately 360 displaced residents and tourists made their way to the gymnasium shelter.

“Resources were stretched thin,” Nathalie said, “So we jumped right in to help organize the shelter.”

Nathalie’s duties included setting up a bedding system and arranging sleeping cots to maximize space. Other tasks included the distribution of food, water and comfort kits. Because some folks arrived nursing burns, a section for medical care was set up.

Nathalie must have made quite an impression. Within two days, she was appointed shelter supervisor, overseeing volunteers from the Red Cross and the high school.

Nathalie described bearing witness to shelter residents’ heartbreaking stories, with a handful having had lost friends and relatives. Others fretted over the uncertainty of whether their pets survived. On a few occasions, Nathalie had to step away to gather herself.

“It’s been amazing to get to know all of these people,” Nathalie said of those under her care. “Some of them literally walked through the fires to get to the shelter. Others rushed into the ocean to escape danger. As for the volunteers, it’s been amazing to see people come together.”

Before their departure, the Sungs were honored by local friends from council member Kama’s office that aided the Red Cross efforts.

The Sungs have since returned home to Manhattan Beach, suitcases unpacked. Before their departure, the duo trained other volunteers to carry on in their absence. Between them, there will be enough memories and impressions to fill another suitcase. For Nathalie, what will remain the standout memory was the importance of community.

GOOD TO KNOW This is a difficult time for everyone affected and it’s important for people to connect with and support each other. If you or a loved one needs help, reach out through the Disaster Distress Helpline for free 24/7 support by calling 1-800-985-5990.

About the American Red Cross: 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA.