Son of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ star talks community efforts in the midst of California wildfires
LOS ANGELES, CA. (KBSI) – More than 40,000 acres have been destroyed by wildfires in California and according to major media outlets more than 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.
Nikko Santo Pietro is a Los Angeles Real Estate Agent and son of Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White, he shares what’s happening in LA around him now.
“As far as the disaster goes it’s been horrendous and as far as the community coming together it’s been a really beautiful thing. We’ve seen the best in people, and we’ve seen the worst in people.”
California residents say they were forced to evacuate their homes as fires spread. Many only carrying backpacks. For many residents leaving by car wasn’t an option as flames covered many roadways.
Leaving the community to pick up the pieces they have left and lean on one another.
“Theres’s donation centers, there’s shelters for people who have been displaced there’s animal shelters for animals that don’t have a home. The community that I’ve seen on my social media platforms my friends and my family I’ve seen them do incredible things” says Pietro. “For example, my buddy is a popular chef, and he is actually on the street with a mobile food preparation situation and cooking for people who don’t have meals.”
With more than a hundred thousand people being displaced. Pietro says help and aide from other areas is needed.
“People may be relocating potentially out of state, out of the Los Angeles area, so potentially if you have a home. If you know people in LA if you’re willing to offer something like that maybe that’s a good start. The other area too of course is donations right now. I know that the Red Cross is accepting donations with the LA fires.”
Pietro shares that many people who lost their homes didn’t have insurance to fall back on.
“Some people’s policies were dropped; some weren’t able to get coverage. They just weren’t able to even find any insurance because they were in such a high fire zone. And you know the individuals who went without coverage you got to think- LA is an area where most of your wealth is held in your home so these folks who have had these homes and are banking on that equity. It is like the most heartbreaking thing to imagine that people have lost everything.”
If you’d like to help with donations here are credited links.
Donate to Disaster Relief | American Red Cross
Nikko Santo Pietro also has a list of resources through his link tree.
