LOS ANGELES, September 20, 2020 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region's evacuation point at Palmdale High School (2137 E. Ave. R, Palmdale, 93550) is ready to assist those seeking refuge from the Bobcat Fire and the new evacuation orders released by Unified Incident Command Teams.

Residents impacted by the Bobcat Fire in need of assistance, can also contact the local Red Cross via the Disaster Distress Hotline at 800-675-5799.

As the Bobcat Fire grows to nearly 100,000 acres and threatens hundreds of homes in nearby communities such as Juniper Hills, Valyermo, Big Pines and Wrightwood, the evacuation point is open to help those needing assistance and refuge. Partnerships have been established with community partners to make sure every resident has safe lodging, food and pet accommodations.

Volunteers will be providing water, snacks and COVID-19 safety resources, in addition to following all CDC and Department of Public Health guidelines. This includes wearing masks, social distancing, temperature checks and frequent sanitizations.

For those seeking refuge, please bring your emergency kit and any supplies you need to help make yourself feel comfortable and safe, such as medication and pet food.

WILDFIRE SAFETY

• Listen to local radio and television stations for updated emergency information.
• Check emergency kit and replenish any items missing or in short supply. Keep it nearby. Add masks, hand sanitizer and gloves to your kit as well to protect you from COVID-19.
• If you have time, take photos and videos of the inside and outside of your home.
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. You don’t have to wait for an official evacuation order. If you feel threatened, be sure that you leave with time to spare.
• Confine all pets to one room so you can quickly and easily take them and go if you need to evacuate. Keep pets on leashes or in carriers, as they can scare easily and run away during disasters like this one.
• Back your car into the driveway for a safer and more efficient way out. Park in an open space facing the direction of escape. Make sure you have at least a half a tank of gas.
• Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.
• Visit redcross.org or download the free Red Cross Emergency App for more preparedness tips and safety checklists, localizable alerts, shelter locator and more.

Please follow @RedCrossLA on Twitter for the latest updates. Visit redcross.org/wildfire for information on how to prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.