News: Gold Country Fairground Shelter Closing

American Red Cross Closes Trailhead Fire Shelter at the Gold Country Fairgrounds
Urges Residents to Prepare Now for Future Wildfires

Auburn, CA, July 2, 2016 – The American Red Cross will be closing the evacuation shelter at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Placer County as of 1:00pm this afternoon.

Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted last night in Placer County resulting in no clients spending the night in the Gold Country Fairgrounds shelter in Auburn. However, the evacuation shelter at the Golden Sierra High School in El Dorado County will remain open until further notice.

“We are very pleased with the progress that has been made on containment of the Trailhead Fire and happy to know there wasn’t any damage to homes,” said Lilly Wyatt, Director of Regional Communications and Marketing for the American Red Cross. “We hope it continues to progress in a positive way for the next days.”

Red Cross volunteers will begin performing damage assessments and distributing bulk and cleaning supplies to residents of Foresthill today and tomorrow.

The Trailhead Fire is just one of the wildfires burning across the state and we know that California is prone to more wildfires due to the five-year drought. The American Red Cross urges residents to take steps now to stay safe when wildfires threaten.

“By preparing together for wildfires, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” Wyatt said. “We can help you and your family create a wildfire preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened.”

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life and death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for wildfires by:

• Downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App. The Red Cross Emergency App contains tips on how to assemble an emergency kit and how to create a plan so all household members will know what to do in case they can’t make it home or they have to evacuate.
  • “Family Safe” is a unique feature that allows users to notify loved ones who are in an affected area. They can also use the app to let people know that they are safe. The app has a map with open Red Cross shelter locations and a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm. Preparedness content is available in English and Spanish. People can download the app in their app store or by going to org/apps.

• Creating and practicing a wildfire evacuation plan. People should learn about wildfire risks in their area and know what to do if one occurs. Plans should include a place outside the neighborhood in case family members cannot get home or need to evacuate.

• Creating an emergency preparedness kit. Pack a first aid kit and a seven-day supply of essential medications, foods that don’t require cooking or refrigeration, a manual can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, copies of important documents like your insurance policies, cell phone chargers, family and emergency contact information, maps of the area and other emergency items for the whole family. Set aside household items that can be used as fire tools (e.g. a rake, ax, shovel, bucket, chain or hand saw)

• Heeding news reports. Listen to local radio and TV stations for updated information. If threatened, be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice as wildfires can be unpredictable. Contain pets to one room so they can be located easily. Back vehicles into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape.

• Preparing your home. Select building materials and plants that resist fire. Regularly clean the roof and gutters to remove flammable debris. Identify and maintain an adequate water source outside the home, such as a small pond, cistern, well or swimming pool. Make sure driveway entrances and the house number or address are clearly marked.

For more information on what to do before, during and after a wildfire, people can go to redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire.

 

People can also follow the Gold Country Region of the American Red Cross on Twitter at @RCSierraDelta or @RedCrossNECal.

 

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 or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

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