California Fire Victims and Families Can Connect on Website

Family and friends can visit the Website and search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well.”

Firefighters from the Carlsbad Fire Brigade battle the flames near Escondido, California. Photo courtesy: American Red Cross

(SAN DIEGO) - Family members and friends searching for information on potential victims from the wildfires in Southern California have an can visit a Website specifically designed to serve as a disaster information point.

The American Red Cross Safe and Well Website is for people who are trying to connect with loved ones after a disaster. The Website provides a way for people to let others know they have survived a disaster.

From a list of standard messages, the user can select those that they want to use to communicate with family members to advise them of their status.

Concerned family and friends can visit the Website and search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well.” The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s First Name, Last Name, an “As of Date”, and the “safe and well” messages selected.

How the Information Is Used

The American Red Cross collects the information so that the general public may access the Search the "Safe and Well List" feature. This allow them to determine only the welfare of the person.

The Red Cross says it is important to understand that this is a public website, and that the name and welfare information entered into the “List Myself as Safe and Well” section will be made available to users of the Internet worldwide. If this is not fully acceptable, information should not be entered into this website.

Information entered elsewhere in the Safe and Well Website will not be made available to the general public, but may be used by the American Red Cross in connection with providing disaster relief services, e.g., in family reunification efforts.

Children’s Privacy

The American Red Cross includes in its online Privacy Policy the commitment to protect the privacy needs of children and encourages parents and guardians to take an active role in their children’s online activities and interests.

"Children under the age of 13 should not enter personal information into this website without adult supervision. The information collected on this website includes the person's first and last name, home address and telephone number, current city and state, name of the disaster, and the status of the person's welfare.

Certain optional information, including date of birth, email address, and current address and telephone number, may also be entered. Please be advised that some personal information submitted to the website (name and welfare information) will be publicly available. Again, The Red Cross advises that if this is not fully acceptable, information should not be entered into this website.

Visit the Safe and Well Website to learn more.