Metrolink crash mobilized Chatsworth neighborhood

Judith Daniels, president of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, posted a moving essay on the group's website thanking the community for helping out victims and rescuers during the Metrolink crash and aftermath. Daniels writes about her experience and how the community came together, proving "once again that Chatsworth Cares." A highlight of the neighborhood mobilization effort:

Between 6:30 p.m. and nearly 1 a.m., I was never off the phone for more than a few minutes. My part in helping was minuscule in comparison to what others did, but it felt good to be able to do something. Late into the night, we discovered that there were almost 1,000 people at Chatsworth High School. They were mostly families awaiting word on their loved ones and some emergency personnel. We were told they had no food, no water and no restrooms. Within about two hours, there was enough food and water on site for them. One industrious volunteer determined that the emergency workers were going to need breakfast Saturday morning. She arranged to get 50 breakfasts at 5:30 a.m. and had clearance to get through the police lines to deliver the food to those who really needed it. She had already worked at least 6 hours Friday night making and delivering sandwiches and water. While she was at the grocery store, she managed to get shoppers who were headed to their cars to go back inside and help with the food preparations. Among the businesses making donations were Los Toros, Olive Garden, Islands and McDonald's. Trader Joe's chipped in a truck load of water.

More on community heroes here.

Photo: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Rich Faulk, left, comforts train riders Dennis Donovan and Ana Pineda both of Simi Valley this morning at the Simi Valley Metrolink station after Donovan told Pineda their friend Donna Remata had been killed. Donovan and Pineda rode with Remata every morning from the Simi Valley Metrolink station. Credit: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Paul Wilcox]

It took me 3 months to type this, but, I could have easily been one of the victims myself! Fortunately for me, I was on vacation in Santa Cruz at the time. Still, the "what if" continues to haunt me; what if I had've been here in the San Fernando Valley that day, traveling to Simi Valley that afternoon? The California Public Utilities Commission did the right thing when they held an emergency meeting shortly after the collision where they immediately banned text-messaging by train operators who are on the job. To this very day, whenever I ride my bike down Chatsworth Street at the railroad crossing, I stop at the memorial and I can't help thinking "What if..."?

[john freel]

A little late, but I just found this site. I was on the train, and a beneficiary of kindness from many locals. Thanks VERY much. It has had an impact on my heart forever. God Bless. Jack Freel

[Debbie Stafford]

My husband Tim was on the Metrolink that crashed on Friday. By some miracle he escaped with only minor injuries. We wanted to take a moment however to thank the firefighters, police, paramedics and all other rescue workers for their awesome job. As a family member of one of the victims I also want to say just how much I appreciate all of the residents of Chatsworth who came out to help our loved ones when we couldn't be there for them. You have no idea how much your presence meant to them and to us. And to the businesses who supplied food and water, your donations are also so appreciated. You have all made a difference in our lives that we will never forget.

[stve]

at least put another person in the cab with the engineer

[jeeff]

inspiring. in particular it inspires me to ask what my neighbourhood is organized to accomplish in such a situation, which can truly happen anywhere. just recently there was a major propane explosion in my city which was fortunately far from my home, but it affected many residents. you never know!

[Linda]

AmigoNica, couldn't have said it better, if I had said it myself. Americans are the most giving, caring people in the world. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy to bring out the best in all of us. Thank you to EVERYONE.

[Anonymous Coward]

@ Bill Cunningham, there is no such thing as a failsafe system. I would not buy it if someone tries to sell it. Whatever you put in charge of a safety system will at some point be distracted or will run into a failure - it will fail you - especially when you least expect it to and most definitely if you think that it won't fail you.

[AmigoNica]

Awesome story... I'm glad to see people actually care for each other when it counts.

[Jim Jackson]

Just as we built the Interstate Highway system in the last half of the past century,
we now need a DEDICATED NATIONAL HIGH SPEED Railway System that does not share rails with freight trains. Using a system which allows trains to travel in both directions on one track without automatic controls is only inviting disaster.
I am shocked that automatic control systems are not installed on all our railroads.

[Bill Cunningham]

I can't believe that the Federal Government, railroad and Metrolink personnel would rather put a price on dead and injured than to install a fail safe system for rail traffic. What does it take to get the job done, more casualties?