Heavy rain fell in the north state over the weekend — so much that Lake Oroville saw its levels rise 20 feet over the past week.
However, unhoused residents sought refuge in emergency shelters and personal vehicles, with no other choice but to protect the little they had.
Many unhoused residents camped near Chico’s Comanche Creek saw their tents flooded and belongings soaked. Chad Barker was one of them. He said he left to sleep in his car in Oroville, but the storm destroyed his tents.
"We had three tents, there was one right here. I just threw it away. I had a bunch of stuff in here," Barker said. "Everything we own was in there except for my clothes. And I was supposed to come, you know, like, see what was left or whatever. There ain't nothing left."
Some local organizations offered aid. The emergency shelter Safe Space partnered with Chico First Baptist Church to provide a place for displaced residents to dry off.
In an email, Safe Space Shelter Operations Manager Rick Narad said they accommodated 35 residents in need of shelter.
However, some camping at Comanche, like Jane Guzman, didn't want to leave their camp.
“Safe Space came and asked if we wanted to go but I'm like, ‘nah I don't want to go, because I got my stuff here.’ So I just stayed," Guzman said.
Guzman added that a local church gave out black trash bags to protect personal belongings from the rain.
The City of Chico released a statement Sunday saying they were "actively responding to all storm-related issues throughout our community."
When NSPR asked if any aid programs were being offered to unhoused residents in need, the city said they could not comment on the matter due to "ongoing settlement discussions surrounding the issue of homelessness."
Rick Narad, Safe Space operations manager, said that donations for unhoused residents are always welcome. Dry socks, ponchos, tents and sleeping bags are all requested. Those dropping off donations are asked to call Safe Space ahead of time to let them know at (406) 782-9807.
