Urgent support needed for Robyn Johnson After Palisades Fire

My name is Robyn Johnson and I am currently facing a challenging situation due to the Pacific Palisades fire in Southern California.

My small studio apartment was located on Sunset Blvd in the center of the Pacific Palisades. Just a couple of blocks north of the Palisades Charter High School, where I evacuated on foot with only a backpack and the clothes on my back.

I was able to spend a couple days at the Westwood Red Cross Evacuation Center when a gracious community member opened her home to me as she had an extra bedroom.

At this time I do not know the state of housing, transportation or basically anything. The entire community of the Palisades has been burned to the ground and unfortunately renters insurance doesn’t cover wildfires.

Everything is gone and this raging fire is still burning. It is still destroying deeper into our communities.

My basic needs at this time is to find a way to at least get some clothes, assist my host with food costs and transportation. In addition, I will need to find a new place to live which will entail at least a security deposit and first months rent. I am a retired teacher from Kentucky living on my pension. Since it is the beginning of the month I have already paid my rent for a place that is possibly completely gone. I’m in utter disbelief and shock as these fires rage on.

I cannot explain to you the devastation. As I was fleeing my apartment the flames were directly across from my apartment. The smoke was so thick with ashes raining down. I could feel the heat from fire with the planes so low flying two by two dropping water from the ocean. The fire just took over so fast. The cars on sunset were bumper to bumper and going no where. People started pulling over and abandoning cars. I personally wallked down to Will Rogers Beach where they were resetting the CERN command post because the first one burned down.

I was there for about five hours before they could transport me to the evacuation center in Westwood. I cannot explain to you my gratitude to all the first responders, the Red Cross, the surrounding communities for hosting us in their homes. These fires continue to burn all around Los Angeles and it is devastating to so many.

I moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to heal my mind, body and soul after suffering such intense mental health struggles I simply was left with no other options to try and save my life. My incredible therapist in Cincinnati, my family, friends and the community of educators support and encouragement led me to the help I so desperately needed. I was never wanted to leave my life in KY but found a new one here in Los Angeles.

Through intense therapy a new community, keeping close contact with everyone and their love and support I began to heal. I have since hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, Visited all the National Parks in Utah, Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and so much more. In April of 2024 I was on my way out of town to volunteer at Yosemite NP for the summer when I was cut off by another driver near Dodger Stadium that totalled my car and caused serious injuries to my neck and lower back.

I had given up the lease I had so I had no place to live but social workers were able to find me affordable housing in the Pacific Palisades of all places. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I, a retired teacher from KY living on a fixed income would or could possibly live anywhere near the ocean much less the Palisades.

My insurance did pay off the loan for my car. The other driver's insurance did pay for the medical bills but there was no big payout from the accident. It is not settled yet, but there will not be enough to even put a down payment on another car. I have been saving every penny I can in hopes of being able to get a car by May. The location of the Apartment was perfect because I could walk to the grocery or take the number 9 bus into Santa Monica.

I moved into the small studio apartment in May of 2024 and furnished it as best I could on my income and with no savings. It was wonderful though. It was safe and it was a good place to once again heal from yet again another life tragedy.

I cannot thank those of you who are supporting me at this time enough. Just knowing I am not alone and that when I return I have the knowledge and skills to help my community rebuild. I am and always will be an educator, retired or not. Our infrastructure is completely gone in our little town. The children miss their schools, the recreation center, the library and I will be there for them when we can return.