Temporary Evacuation Shelter Opens At El Modena High School

LAKE FOREST, CA — First a fall and now winter like no other in Orange County, Orange County's inland residents are keeping their eyes trained on the denuded hillsides above their homes as more rain heads to the region.

Read: Fire Area Under Voluntary Evacuation Ahead Of Winter Storm

In early December, the Bond Fire erupted, sweeping the foothills and mountainous areas, driven by heavy Santa Ana winds. Its predecessor, the Silverado Fire, caused hundreds of thousands to flee their Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Irvine homes due to encroaching flames, smoke, and gale-forced winds. Now, as the rainy season picks up steam, residents once again must prepare for possible evacuations, this time due to flooding.

The National Red Cross is ready and able to help, they say.

"A series of strong winter storms on the West Coast may bring several inches of snow and rain to Southern California, and the risk of flooding and mudslides in areas where last year’s wildfires destroyed acres of vegetation," a Red Cross spokesperson said.

The American Red Cross Southern California Region responds to all of those under evacuation warnings and orders in Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino counties.

Red Cross teams are currently supporting three Temporary Evacuation Points where there are mandatory evacuations, including one in Orange County.

Orange County Evacuation Center:
El Modena High School, 3920 E. Spring St, Orange, CA 92869

Large Animal, Pet Evacuations: Any person needing assistance with animal or large animal evacuations should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848.

The Red Cross has created a preemptive plan to give residents who may need to evacuate more time to do so and more options amid the global pandemic, they said.

"Evacuees who need shelter must check in at a Temporary Evacuation Point so the county can verify that they reside in a mandatory evacuation zone," the Red Cross explains. "Once that determination is made, the Red Cross will work to secure accommodations for these evacuees with one of our hotel partners."

Providing hotel accommodations takes time, so evacuees should go to a Temporary Evacuation Point as early as possible to begin the process of requesting this kind of housing support.

All residents should have a disaster kit ready and review their emergency plans with their household and loved ones.

• Have your disaster kit ready. Review your emergency plan with everyone in your household.
• Plan your evacuation route and alternates in case main roads are impassable.
• Don’t forget your pets. If you must evacuate, make arrangements for your animals. Keep a phone list of pet-friendly hotels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

The Red Cross has provided the following mudslide safety and flood safety tips for all who need them:

MUDSLIDE SAFETY

• If you suspect imminent danger, evacuate immediately. Inform affected neighbors if you can, and contact your public works, fire, or police department.
• Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together.
• If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and notice whether the water changes from clear to muddy. Such changes may mean there is debris flow activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly.
• 'Be especially alert when driving— watch for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible debris flow.
• Stay alert and awake. Many deaths from landslides occur while people are sleeping.
• Listen to local news stations on a battery-powered radio for warnings of heavy rainfall.

FLOOD SAFETY

• Be prepared to evacuate quickly if necessary. Follow evacuation orders and do not attempt to return until officials say it is safe to do so
• Turn around, don’t drown. Stay off the roads. If you must drive and encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and go another way. Head for higher ground and stay there.
• Stay away from floodwaters. Beware of snakes, insects, and other animals that may be in or around floodwaters and your home.
• If power lines are down, do not step in puddles or standing water.
• Don't walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Just six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you over, and two feet will float a car.
• Don't walk on beaches or riverbanks.
• Don’t allow children to play in or near floodwater.
• Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Underpasses, dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc., can become filled with water.

If you feel an emergency is threatening your neighborhood, prepare to evacuate the area and leave if officials tell you to do so. Do not return home until officials say it is safe to do so.

Read also:

Silverado Fire: Firefighters Hospitalized, Over 7,200 Acres Burn

Hotshot Firefighters Severely Burned Battling Silverado Fire

Peltzer Pines Spared From Bond Fire In Silverado Canyon

50th Anniversary: 1969 Fatal Mudslide and Silverado Fire Hall