FEMA mobile unit closesWednesday
North Complex town hall meeting is planned for Thursday
OROVILLE » Wednesday is the last day for the North Complex fire victims to register in person with FEMA at the mobile unit in Oroville, but online registration will continue through Nov. 21.
Registration helps with documentation for the recovery process and provides information for assistance that is available.
In addition, a town hall meeting for North Complex victims is planned from4 to 6p.m. Thursdayat Southside Community Center, 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road in Oroville. Butte County Supervisor Bill Connelly along with county staff, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services representatives and other agencies will provide information and answer questions about recovery and rebuilding.
For those who are not able to attend in person, the meeting will be livestreamed on Butte County’s Facebook page www.Facebook.com/ButteCounty.
In addition, Butte County has expanded its disaster recovery website to include North Complex recovery information.
The mobile unit is based at the Tractor Supply parking lot, 2000 Feather River Blvd., and will be open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Fire victims can continue to apply for disaster assistancewith the FederalEmergency Management Agency online atwww.disasterassistance.gov; by downloading the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet; or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800- 621- 3362 ( TTY 800462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Pacific. The deadline for North Complex victims to register isNov. 21.
Fire victims can also turn to Butte 2-1-1 by dialing that hotline number and being linked to a representative.
As of Tuesday, the North Complex was 95% contained and had burned 318,930 acres. Started by lightning Aug. 17 and covering areas of Butte and Plumas counties, it has killed 15 residents of Berry Creek and Feather Falls. Roughly 2,455 structures were damaged or destroyed.
Power out
While the North Complex is nearly contained, risky fire weather is still ahead, with strong winds.
A Red Flag Warning was issued by the National Weather Service for Wednesday morning as north-to- east winds with strong gusts, and a weather watch through Friday.
Consequently, PG&E has announced the potential for a public safetypower shutdown Wednesday through Friday.
Even with cooler temperatures, the threat of wildfires remains high.
County website
As the fire battle against the North Complex subsides and recovery work focuses on restoring terrains, the human factor of the wildfires shifts to the county structure, which is still working to help victims of the Camp Fire.
Information for both Camp Fire and North Complex fires is posted on the website www.buttecountyrecovers.org. Information posts include debris removal, damagemaps, resources and assistance, and information about animals recovered.
Resources and assistances section includes information on self- service water refill stations, food assistance and computer access.
There is also a health section and a housing and shelter section, along with a way to donate by helping emergency organizations like North Valley Community Foundation, North Valley Animal Disaster Group, American Red Cross and Oroville Hope Center.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, certain Butte County victims, both individual and businesses, may qualify for tax relief but should check with the IRS’s disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227.
In addition to the Butte County Recovers website, information regarding North Complex recovery will continue to be shared on Butte County’s social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter. For residents without computer access, computer access is available at most branches of the county library, in addition to paper postings at:
• Gold Flake Saloon and Cafe, 1301Lumpkin Road, Feather Falls;
• Temporary Cal Fire-Butte County Fire Station No. 61 at 9476Oro Quincy Highway in Berry Creek;
• Raleys, 2325Myers St., Oroville;
• Walmart, 465Cal Oak Road, Oroville;
• The Home Depot, 2150 Third St., Oroville;
• Lakeside Market, 5250 Olive Highway, Oroville.
The Butte County Library Literacy Coach will also be available to provide Wi-Fi access to residents at LakesideMarket every Thursday from9 a.m. to noon.