Assistance Continues for those Affected by the El Dorado Fire and Valley Fire

PALM SPRINGS & SAN BERNARDINO — September 18, 2020  — In response to the Snow Fire, the  American Red Cross Southern California Region opened a Temporary Evacuation Point at the James A. Venable Community Center, 50390 Carmen Ave., where volunteers are providing food, hydration, emergency lodging, and more. Last night, the Red Cross supported four families (seven individuals) needing shelter by providing hotel rooms nearby.

The temporary evacuation point is not a shelter, it is a rest site for those affected to assess their needs and for the Red Cross to present lodging options. Volunteers are providing snacks, water and COVID-19 safety resources at the site, then arranging lodging. Following DPH and CDC COVID-19 safety protocols, Red Cross volunteers are maintaining social distancing, and sanitizing routines.

For those seeking refuge, please bring your emergency kit and any supplies you may need to help make yourself feel comfortable and safe, such as medication and pet food. Wildfires can spread rapidly and it’s important to prepare now and have your cars ready; please, do not wait until there is not enough time to grab your essentials.

Update on El Dorado Fire
As evacuation orders remain in place for many, the Red Cross continues to provide support for 147 families (353 individuals) who needed shelter by providing hotel rooms on Thursday evening, along with regular meals, snacks and resources.

The Temporary Evacuation Point at Redlands East Valley High School, 31000 E. Colton Ave. remains open during the day and early evening, where volunteers are providing food, hydration, and more. During the hours of 7 p.m.-7 a.m.; a virtual Temporary Evacuation Point is open. Those seeking assistance tonight can call the virtual assistance line at (760) 646-3824 to receive help.

Those impacted by the El Dorado Fire can mark themselves "safe" or search for friends and family at SafeAndWell.org, a Red Cross website and free tool that helps reunite loved ones during disasters.

Update on Valley Fire

Two weeks after the start of the Valley Fire, the Red Cross continues to work with individuals requiring extended hotel stays and those who find contamination or damage to their residences or have power outages and still need shelter. On Thursday evening, the Red Cross provided support for five families (12 individuals) in five rooms, who needed shelter by providing hotel rooms nearby.

Red Cross Southern California is dedicated to helping those affected by disasters. We work closely with local emergency management teams and our partners to coordinate relief efforts. Trained Red Cross volunteers and staff are on call round-the-clock and ready to assist in aspects such as providing shelter, meals, disaster assessment, resources and more.

Before a Wildfire

• Be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
• Back your car into the garage or park it outside in the direction of your evacuation route.
• Confine pets to one room so you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly.
• Listen to local radio and television stations for updated emergency information including your safest escape route.
• Check your emergency kit and replenish any items missing or in short supply, especially medications and medical supplies. Make sure you include a mask and hand sanitizer with your kit. Keep it in the car.
• Don’t wait – evacuate: if you feel threatened or unsafe, you can choose to evacuate at any time. If you receive an official evacuation order, please heed the orders of local authorities and follow all instructions.

How to Help
The Red Cross is grateful for the generosity of the community and those looking to help those affected by the local fires; however, for the safety those being cared for and for the safety of volunteers, the Red Cross is currently unable to accept material donations of any kind. Due to increased safety measures for COVID-19, storing, sorting, cleaning and distributing donated items could be especially dangerous. Due to health code regulations, the Red Cross cannot accept donations of home-cooked meals or food items not prepared in a commercial kitchen.

The first priority for the Red Cross is to provide shelter and support to those affected, and financial donations are the quickest and best way to get help to those who need it most. Financial donations to the Red Cross help provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance during disasters like the Snow Fire, Valley Fire or El Dorado Fire and other emergencies. Donate at redcross.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

Please follow @SoCal_RedCross 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 Southern California Region  
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 public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube. 

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