Debris Flow Evacuations and How You Can Help

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With the impending high winds and expected storms to come in the next few days, Santa Cruz County community members living in areas identified at risk are currently being asked to evacuate due to the threat of debris flow and mudslides.

We are working with the County of Santa Cruz to help staff the evacuation drop-in centers and are in critical need of volunteers to assist at the temporary evacuation sites. 

Register to Help at the Following Sites:

Emergency Relief Volunteer tasks include:

  • Activation– volunteers may be called upon to assist on short notice.
  • Initial– setup of supplies will be pre-staged at the site. Volunteers will be responsible for helping set up check-in areas, food and water stations, tables, chairs, etc.
  • Intake– help with the intake process of evacuees as directed by the County staff.
  • Distribution– assist with the distribution of supplies to evacuees such as food, water, blankets, etc.

There will be no walk up volunteer options available. Please register via our website and we will follow up with the next steps. Please note that shifts will be 4-5 hours long.  The evacuation points will provide bathrooms, charging stations, refreshments, and pet food at each location but no overnight stays so there are no late evening or early morning shifts.

If you are not sure which shifts you can sign up for at this time or unable to help in this moment but want to stay connected for future opportunities please express interest via our Debris Flow Volunteer Registry and we will keep you posted each time new opportunities arise to help.

Sign up for our Debris Flow Relief Volunteer Registry

Additionally, we are looking for volunteers who would like to support this effort by giving their time at the Emergency Operations Center. the EOC is currently seeking volunteers to assist with calls. Volunteer duties include providing up to date guidance on evacuations, transferring emergency calls to 911, and listening to evacuees with empathy.

Express Interest in Volunteering at the Call Center 

All volunteers will be asked to wear a mask, maintain social distance, and to complete our Health Screening Checklist prior to volunteering at any of our volunteer locations. 

SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED OF EVACUATION

Community members looking for more information about how they can safely evacuate and access fire recovery services should visit the County of Santa Cruz Virtual Recovery Resource Center  or view the Santa Cruz County Twitter Page for consistent daily updates.

Check your evacuation zone at community.zonehaven.com  and sign up for emergency alerts at scr911.org.
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Looking for emergency preparation resources?- The storm will bring heavy wind and rain Tuesday afternoon  through Thursday with gusts as high as 70mph. Please be prepared. If you live near an evacuation zone, prepare multiple evacuation routes and be prepared for power outages that may prevent emergency notifications and cell service. Check out our 5 steps to prepare for an emergency resources page that includes how to sign up for text alerts and what to pack in your go bag.