At the end of 2018, just before I launched Rino Ready, my family and I stood in the shadow of towering flames, their heat licking at our front door.

The deep orange, red glow illuminating the walls as we evacuated.

There’s no way to truly prepare for a moment like that—the fear, the chaos, the helplessness—but that experience ignited something inside me. It was the beginning of the journey that led to the creation of this business.   

Life doesn’t come with warnings when it unravels. Disasters don’t knock politely—they crash through, uninvited.

The only way to stand your ground is to prepare in advance, to take control before the fight comes to you. And when it does, you’ll face it knowing you’ve done everything you could to be ready.

But as civilians, there are limits to what we can do alone. In the darkest moments, it’s the courage and selflessness of first responders that bring hope and salvation.

Their heroism extends where ours falls short.

The fires sweeping Los Angeles this year have resurfaced the memories of those harrowing days my family endured years ago. Once again, unimaginable loss has struck our communities. Yet, time after time, the brave men and women of the LAFD—and first responders from across the nation and the world—have risen to the challenge, embodying resilience and compassion when it’s needed most.

While more battles will undoubtedly lie ahead, I am deeply grateful to live in a country that stands resilient, faces adversity head-on, and refuses to surrender to fear.

We will rise from the ashes.

Don't panic.