SACRAMENTO - The American Red Cross is urging residents to be prepared for additional rainfall and possible flooding as heavy rain is expected to impact much of California through the weekend. Local Red Cross chapters throughout the state are monitoring weather conditions and working with local government officials, and stand ready to respond with additional shelters and resources for affected populations.
FLOOD SAFETY: Residents are encouraged to follow flood safety tips to prepare for and respond to flooding in their area. Tips include the following:
• Keep car gas tanks full, so that in the event of an evacuation, you can get quickly to safety.
• Listen to local radio and television stations for possible flood warning and reports of flooding in progress or other critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
• When a flood or flash flood warning is issued, head for higher ground and stay there.
• Turn around, don’t drown! If water is flowing above ankle level, stop, turn around, and go another way.
• Keep children out of the water which can be swift moving or contaminated.
Find these and other flood safety tips at redcross.org or in the Red Cross Emergency App.
FIND A SHELTER: The Red Cross Gold Country Region is still operating three shelters for those affected by the Oroville Spillway emergency and flooding in other areas of the region. These locations are:
Silver Dollar Fairgrounds
2357 Fair St.
Chico, CA 95928
Hammon Senior Center
1033 W. Las Palmas
Patterson, CA 95363
California State Fairgrounds – Cal Expo
1600 Expo Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
To find the latest information on Red Cross shelter locations, visit redcross.org/shelter, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or download the Red Cross Emergency App.
Be Prepared for Potential Emergencies
Taking steps now to prepare for the potential weather impacts is critical to keeping you and your loved ones safe should an emergency situation arise. There are three actions everyone can take that can help make a difference: get a kit, make a plan, be informed.
GET A KIT: Pack your emergency kit in an easy-to-handle container. Make sure to include a flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit, medications, hygiene items, extra clothing, and copies of important documents. Full information about what to include is available on redcross.org.
MAKE A PLAN: Work with every member of the family to identify two places to meet if separated in an emergency. Identify responsibilities for each member of the household and plan to work together as a team. Discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where family members live, learn, work and play.
BE INFORMED: Residents should stay alert to weather patterns and surroundings. Listen closely to local weather alerts and follow orders from emergency personnel.
DOWNLOAD THE EMERGENCY APP: You can download the FREE Red Cross Emergency App to have safety information available on your mobile device, including open shelter locations, emergency weather alerts and flood safety information. Red Cross apps are available in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
GET CONNECTED: Follow the Red Cross Gold Country Region on social media for the latest information as it becomes available.
_Facebook:
www.facebook.com/RCSierraDelta
Twitter:
@RedCrossNECal
@RCSierraDelta
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The Gold Country Region serves a twenty-four county territory including Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba counties. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/goldcountry or follow us on Twitter @RCSierraDelta.