Fires Update, Oct. 19



Tomki Road was the hardest hit area in Redwood Valley north of Ukiah, with the most homes destroyed. Photograph by Dana Flint.


A prayer from Bishop Barry for the diocese

Most Gracious God: 
Hear our prayer for all whose lives are impacted by this crisis. 
Shield and deliver all emergency responders; 
 give wisdom and guide those in authority; 
watch over all who have been forced to evacuate, 
and all who wait with uncertainty. 
Comfort those who mourn great loss. 
Help those who wish to help 
 to be patient and effective in compassion. 
Bless us all, and help us trust in you. 
 In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

People all over the nation and the world are praying for us. To see the Jerusalem bishop's letter to Bishop Barry, click  here.
  
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Today we are focusing on some of the smaller communities that have been impacted by the October fires. 

Eight people died in the Redwood Valley/Potter Valley fire near Ukiah, CalFire's Public Information Officer Lynne Tolmachoff reported earlier this week.

Ukiah, the Mendocino County seat, is bisected by Highway 101, and is about 65 miles north of Santa Rosa. Redwood Valley is 6 miles north of Ukiah. The fires there started in Potter Valley, and burned several homes there before it crested the hill.

Holy Trinity, Ukiah, passed out about 50 free N95 respirator face masks last Sunday. "Our goal is to provide masks to Ukiah's large homeless population," said the Rev. John Day, priest-in-charge. The church is also looking into ways to join an ecumenical response to recovery efforts.

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Please keep  Christ the King, Quincy, parishioner Dan Patterson in your prayers. He, along with many other first responders, have been hard at work fighting the wildfires in our area. Complementing the direct firefighting efforts, the Rev. Matt Warren has been working with volunteers in the Diocese and TEC to provide assistance for those effected by the fires within California. "Our offering for the month of October will be forwarded to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund to assist in those efforts."

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Nevada County Community Disaster Response Fund: Grass Valley Police Chaplains and local community leaders are partnering to organize a Community Disaster Response Fund to help those in Nevada County devastated by the local fires. At this time, 22 homes have been lost with a total of more than 55 structures destroyed including businesses, barns, and equipment. For more information and to apply, click  here. 

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As people begin to return home, CalFire cautions that a number of hazardous situations remain. Check calfire.ca.gov for tips on returning, and the latest fire and evacuation information. More information is here as well. Yuba County offered an information sheet on fire cleanup; the pdf is   here . And the New York Times has an excellent story on the hazards. 

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FEMA grants   are available are available for residents who have lost a house or business in the following counties: Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sonoma and Yuba.. They can apply online at   www.DisasterAssistance.gov  or by phone at 800-621-3362, or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The phone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, FEMA said. 
Applicants will be asked to provide identification and contact information, a description of the damage and insurance information. 

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Free therapy at Incarnation this Saturday: The Redwood Empire Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists is hosting free drop-in counseling at Incarnation, Santa Rosa, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone who needs to talk about the recent fires. Therapeutic arts & crafts and games for children, and refreshments will be available. For more information on the effects of trauma on children, or adults, please see RECAMFT's resource page . 

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Monetary donations are the very best way to support the victims of the fires:
  • Episcopal Relief & Development, through the U.S. Disaster Fund. 
  • Episcopal Diocese of Northern California bishop's discretionary fund through the diocese's website. The bishop has begun disbursing funds; please contact your clergy person with any needs involving fire relief and we will respond promptly. 
  • Incarnation, Santa Rosa, through its fire-relief fund.
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For those of you who live in Sacramento, Yolo or Placer Counties, the Sacramento Office of Emergency Services conducted a test of the emergency notification system on the morning of Oct. 19. If you were not notified, you can register to get emergency alerts by email, text, cell phone or landline here.
 
THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ