Need for aid pressures local emergency response
OROVILLE » Some members of the communities affected by the North Complex fire are still waiting for aid or facing displacement, and local organizations have had to step up to pool resources quickly.
A particularly high need for food and gas cards and transportation to Red Cross accommodations remains — a repeat of a major issue faced directly after the Camp Fire.
The deadline set for wildfire survivors to get $250 “SAVE” gift cards at the Local Assistance Center at 1875 Feather River Blvd. in Oroville was Tuesday, which led to some confusion from those who still need aid.
Some were evacuated multiple times and said they missed the window for relief from the center.
“This is the second time in a matter of weeks thatwe have been evacuated,” Marilyn Eaves said. “We drove from Willows to Oroville and when we got to the LAC we got no help with gift cards or gas cards.
“We can’t keep coming back and forth as we are just about out of money and only have half a tank of gas in our car.… We have lost so much money due to these evacuations,” Eaves said. “The last time we were evacuated I had to throw just about everything in my refrigerator and freezer out and had to go shopping to replace it all to turn around and be evacuated again. I can’t afford to keep replacing all my food.”
Another evacuee lost her Concow home in the Camp Fire and has been evacuated twice from her new trailer in the area, but said a tree fell on her home and she cannot get the same types of aid.
“I can’t get assistance from FEMA because the damage tomy trailer didn’t happen as a direct result of
the fire,” Paige Stoker said. “So it’s been a struggle to find resources that I’m eligible for. The only reason I’m getting Red Cross is because I’m on mandatory evacuation.”
Stoker said she felt as if “in the eyes of the rest of the services, my home wasn’t destroyed by the fire so I don’t have anything coming.” However, she thanked the Tzu Chi Foundation for its assistance. She said she is currently stuck waiting to get transportation to a Red Cross hotel room in Roseville.
“It’s already emotional enough for me to lose my home a second time but then to be turned down almost everywhere I go for help is about to break me,”
Stoker said. “Right now I’m staying in my hot car full of stuff, my cat andmy dog. “I just want to go home.” Help for evacuees like Stoker and Eaves can start at Butte County 2-1-1 on a case by case basis.
Executive Director Tara Sullivan Hames said the center can provide callers with information and referrals to services that are currently available.
Hames said for now, the center directs fire survivors to Tzu Chi and the Oroville Assistance Center for assistance, after referring to FEMA and Red Cross aid.
Hames acknowledged “a high level of unmet need” for gas assistance, adding the center is aware of the limitation of transportation
being a significant barrier for fire survivors to access relief and recovery services
“We have located a few resources currently providing gas cards or help purchasing gas, but those resources tend to be very temporary — at pop up distribution events and relief services outlets,” Hames said.
“Some resources offering gas cards have already come and gone. Some community-based organizations have obtained gas cards or funding for gas assistance and are distributing those cards to the fire survivors that they are working with directly.”
However, those agencies are not “public access” points for gas card distri
bution to fire survivors, Hames added.
Hames said Butte 2-1-1 does offer direct guidance for people who can and want to take the bus to their destinations and the call center “can help people plan their trips on the bus to visit distribution points, food pantries and other resources.” There is some ”very limited” ability to dispatch free Lyft rides for fire survivors who are in Chico and need to access resources in Chico.
“Unfortunately, Lyft drivers are just not available in the other Butte County communities so we are not able to provide Lyft rides dispatch except for within the Chico area,” she said. The only exception is if fire survivors from Butte are currently sheltering in Yuba City or Marysville.
Timely options
Fire survivors can call the 2-1-1 Center at 1- 800985-5990, text Talk With Us to 66747 or call the Butte Hope Line at 966-7382.
The Tiny Pine Foundation is organizing weekly drive- through distributions. Alyssa Nolan- Cain, founder and CEO, said supplies, food and gas and gift cards will be provided 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 1235 Lincoln St. in Oroville.
Nearly $500,000 in donated supplies are available to survivors. A grant from North Valley Community Foundation for $500,000 funds gift and gas cards handed out to anyone impacted by the fire. The organization also received a donation of $1,000 from Grocery Outlet on Thursday morning.
Nolan-Cain said more distributions will take place in the next two weeks, and residents can schedule appointments to show proof of residency to get more gas and gift cards and shop the organization’s donated supplies. They can email tinypinefoundation@gmail.com.
Brenda Rightmyer is still distributing gas cards affiliated with Lakeside Market in Oroville to fire victims, reach out at 370-5302.
A donation event also takes place noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Lake side Market. Identification is required to attend the free event, where hot food, dry goods and donated supplies will be available.
The application for the first round of California Strong Wildfire Relief is open online at californiastrong.org through Friday. Aid is open to all statewide fire survivors impacted by the wildfires, even if the applicant’s home was not destroyed.