The Dixie Fire is still burning, and evacuees still need your help. On September 12, 2021, HCRN in collaboration with Adventist Health and Menlo Church delivered 3 trailers worth of goods to a Point of Distribution in Quincy, California. This distribution served evacuees of the Dixie Fire. Your donations, both fiscally and materially, allowed many people to pick up blankets, cleaning supplies and other items to make their uncertainty a bit more comfortable.
When HCRN arrived at this distribution, there was a real worry that not everyone who needed assistance would be able to make the drive. Quincy is rural, and so are many of the evacuation zones. In fact, many towns in the evacuation zone are small and remote. This makes spreading information about distributions difficult and adds the strain of needing to use gas to access this resource. Even with those factors, many evacuees found their way to Quincy and were so grateful for a hot meal and supplies.
As of this writing, the Dixie Fire has grown to over 960,000 acres, or 1,500 square miles. It is the largest, by area, single fire in California history. The fire has burned for over 60 days and has created hazardous air quality, while also threatening rural communities in the Plumas National Forest.
This distribution served members of the Greenville community. Greenville burned almost entirely a little over one month ago. HCRN visited this town to evaluate damage and witness any clean-up progress that had been made. Power has been at least partially restored, and many properties had been examined by the EPA for hazardous materials. The recovery process for this town is like so many previous disasters, and that means challenges. What it does not mean is hopelessness. We have seen disaster after disaster called unprecedented and, each time, the community has shown that it wants to stay a community.
Many who came through the line have been living out of their cars. Their vehicles were packed as tight as possible to save as much as possible. An evacuation means uncertainty, it means not knowing if your home is lost or not. What is needed in that time is kindness, and material assistance. That’s why these distributions are so important. One of the items that was requested was can openers, because even though food drives will often provide plenty of canned food, there is no way to open or cook the items provided. Clothing is needed, but not the clothes that are so ratty you wouldn’t wear them yourself. Shoes, underwear, the ability to clean your body after an extended period living in a car, these are the things that are needed.
Response to disaster is never a one size fits all solution, but that should not be discouraging. Connecting with local groups on the ground who are serving their community is the best way to help. That’s why HCRN does everything in our power to provide the missing pieces, because sometimes a can opener is the most important thing a person needs that day.
You can continue being a part of our response to the Dixie Fire and other disasters as they unfold in Northern California. Visit our facebook page or a make a donation.
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