Super Bowl ad mimics domestic violence situations in Coachella Valley

Super Bowl Sunday the NFL hopes fans won’t only talk about the game. Racked by several instances involving NFL players, the league is running a powerful public service announcement during the game addressing domestic violence.

The chilling ad mimics a scenario that plays out too often in the Coachella Valley. In anticipation of the ad, the local 24-hour domestic violence crisis line is preparing for an influx of people calling for help.

The public service announcement shows a woman calling 911 pretending to order a pizza because her attacker is in the room.

It’s a scenario that’s played out here in the Coachella Valley.

“We’ve had incidents where women are calling, ‘Oh I’m looking for my grandma, is she there?’ Well, no your grandma is not here, what is going on? Can I help you with something?'” said Shelter from the Storm executive director Angelina Cole.

“We know to pull for more information because she may not be in a safe situation,” Cole said.

Shelter from the Storm is a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic violence from Banning to Blythe.

Its staff are the people on the other end of the line depicted in the Super Bowl PSA.

“It’s not easy and it takes a lot of courage, but there is a support system available and there is help out there,” said Cole.

Cole, a survivor of domestic violence herself, says Sunday victims will be particularly vulnerable.

“Statistics show that Monday after Super Bowl is the highest nationwide for people calling out sick from work and it’s not always because they partied too hard but because the abuse was so intense after the Super Bowl because there are heightened emotions, there is other things involved, that they can’t make it to work,” said Cole.

Cole says this public service announcement will hopefully encourage people to seek help.

“It usually takes sever to nine incidents before a woman finally decides to leave, they can come and learn how do a safety plan,” said Cole.

Cole’s team is in need of their own of help, they’re short-staffed but will answer every call.

Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate and neither do we, if you need help give us a call and we will see what we can do.

The local 24-hour Crisis Line is toll free in both English and Spanish; it’s 800-775-6055 or you can dial 760-328-safe (7233). If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 911.

For more information on Shelter from the Storm click here.