A local assistance center opened today to help Tehama County residents who’ve been impacted by the Park Fire.
“There’s everything from financial assistance to spiritual assistance to mental health assistance and medical assistance here."— Lt. Andy Houghtby, Tehama County Sheriff's Office
The center is located at the Red Bluff Community Center. It will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday. Another assistance center for Butte County residents in Chico closed today.
Andy Houghtby, lieutenant with the Tehama County Sheriff's Office, said the center in Red Bluff is a one-stop shop for everyone affected by the fire. Representatives from federal, state and county agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations are all available to help.
“We’ve got our VOAD or — Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster — here,” he said. “Which are a lot of nationwide or local organizations that are able to do more than what the government can do.”
Houghtby said those coming to the center have a range of needs, including dealing with smoke damage to being evacuated.
“Others lost everything,” he said. “So they can get everything from bedding and equipment to reset themselves.”
Gift cards, recovery kits, help filling out forms, crisis chaplains and comfort dogs are all available.
“There’s everything from financial assistance to spiritual assistance to mental health assistance and medical assistance here,” Houghtby said.
The center is also focused on longer-term recovery, he said, as many of the groups helping have also been involved with rebuilding after the 2018 Camp Fire.
“So they’re experts, sadly to say, in the disaster world,” he said. “And they can provide assistance for that.”
He said he hopes residents will come to the center, or spread the word.
“So, if you maybe [have not been] affected by the fire, but your neighbor or your friends were, tell them that this place is open,” he said. “Send them down here to get some assistance. There's something here for everyone.”
