CZU August Lightning Complex Fires Information and Resources

Shelter Information

Please seek shelter with friends and family first to reserve space for those most in need. Can you offer shelter? If you are not in an evacuation zone, please consider opening your home to others. 

Shelters are available to County residents. Please advise staff of any special needs accommodations. Mental Health Services are on site. Pets are allowed, must be under owner’s control or in a carrier.

FEMA Hotel Program: Evacuees may be eligible for a no-cost hotel stay for the duration of their evacuation. For questions about eligibility, call the hotline at (831) 454-2181 or visit any shelter site. Hotel guests must check out within 24 hours of repopulation. For more information or to extend your current stay, visit the California Department of General Services.

CZU Lightning Fire Complex evacuees not yet placed at a hotel may go to https://tinyurl.com/SCCHotel to submit an initial, first time application for hotel program assistance.

Alternately, CZU Lightning Fire Complex evacuees already placed at a hotel may go to https://tinyurl.com/SCCHotelRenewal to request a renewal of their seven-day reservation if they are within 24 hours of their reservation’s check-out date.

Shelters:

For information on accommodations, please call 211 or Red Cross at (800)Redcross/(800)733-2767

Animals:

• If you need assistance evacuating animals, please call 831-454-7200
• Pets may be brought to shelter but must be under owner’s control at all times. A carrier may be helpful
• The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds currently has capacity to board horses

Resources

To find the most current evacuation map  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f0121f7f2f0941afb3ed70529b2cee75.

Sign up for Cal Fire email updates at https://tinyurl.com/czulightning.

The Santa Cruz County Human Services benefits hotline is 1-888-421-8080 (toll free). Residents impacted by the fire who are enrolled in benefits programs may be eligible for replacement benefits. 

To list yourself safe go to www.redcross.org/safeandwell to click "List Yourself as Safe and Well.”    

For the latest traffic advisories or restrictions: https://cruz511.org/. 

For the latest local air quality information: http://air.mbard.org/. 

CALFire CZU San Mateo – Santa Cruz Unit Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/CALFIRECZU

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Twitter page: https://twitter.com/santacruzso1

Stay Safe During a Wildfire: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/duringfire.html

Fire Victims: https://www.votescount.us/Home/UpcomingElections/November3,2020Election/Firevictims1120.aspx

Health and Safety

Protect yourself from poor air quality due to the California wildfires.

• Stay indoors
• Close windows
• Run A/C, if possible
• Stay up-to date on air conditions at www.airnow.gov

While sheltering with others please remember we are still in a pandemic. Whenever possible:

• Wear your face coverings
• Stay 6 feet apart
• Wash your hands often
• Sanitize frequently touched surface

How to Help

Effective Friday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m., the donation warehouses at 1082 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, and 114 Walker St., Watsonville, will no longer be accepting donations for fire evacuees or open to evacuees to pick up items such as toiletries, clothing, non-perishable foods, etc. The County will work with community partners to establish alternate donation locations. More information will be posted once available.

Residents displaced by the CZU August Lightning Complex fires are in urgent need of donations. Due to COVID-19 considerations, we request that all donations be in new condition. Please bring all donations to:

• Non-Perishable Food donations may be brought to Second Harvest Food Bank. We cannot accept food at the warehouse sites.
• Santa Cruz County Warehouse, 1082 Emeline, Santa Cruz. Warehouse open 10 am – 4 pm, Monday – Saturday.
• South County Donation Site, 114 Walker St., Watsonville. Site open 10 am – 4 pm, Monday – Saturday.

Note: 

• Prepared meals, alcohol, medicine, fuel and used bedding or clothing are not being accepted. 

Santa Cruz County Lightning Fire Response 2020: Find Out How to Give Help or Get Help. Go to https://scvolunteercenter.org/events-2/lightning-fire-2020/

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has established a community fire relief fund. Go to www.cfscc.org.