Firestorm evacuees in tents at Walmart pack up after services dismantled

[brooklynite]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Wildfire evacuees camping out on a dirt lot next to a Walmart in Chico unstaked their tents and packed up their newly donated belongings Sunday, ready to move on but unsure to where.

Many have lived at the makeshift tent city since the Camp Fire erupted Nov. 8 and chased residents out of their homes in Paradise, Magalia and nearby. But a volunteer operation at the retailer, which hosted food trucks, clothing and showers, was closing Sunday afternoon in a move meant to nudge the residents to move to more sustainable living.

“We’re being forced out, as far as I know,” said Magalia resident Cindy Delano, 60, as her fiance dismantled their tent. The two were planning to drive to the Bay Area and stay with her dad, but space there is limited, and they need to be out in a few days.

No city, county or Walmart official formally evicted the group, though rumors around the camp had many believing that was the case. The situation at the site was confused Sunday, and with no official organization running the operation, evacuees were left to rely on word of mouth.


Read more: https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/Firestorm-evacuees-in-tents-at-Walmart-pack-up-13403357.php?t=9da59842d1

[RockRaven]

1. My understanding is that the rain expected on Tuesday or so is also a factor

and that this particular lot is prone to flooding during rain storms. But that's like 3rd hand information.

[Permanut]

2. If I were the Emperor of the Earth..

Last edited Mon Nov 19, 2018, 01:28 AM - Edit history (1)

These people would have all their urgent and emergency needs met.

Edited for spelling.

[ProudLib72]

3. WTF???

A few days ago I heard on the news that the shelters would continue to remain open for as long as needed. These people have nowhere else to go, and many don't even know if their homes still exist. What the hell happened in the last few days to change the policy?

[TeamPooka]

4. They deny it but you know this was a Walmart decision as holiday shopping is about to start this

week.
Black Friday and all....

[ProudLib72]

5. Greed outweighs compassion every damned time!

[Hekate]

14. Heavy rain is forecast & they could drown in the debris flow like my daughter's neighbors ...

...in Montecito.

For gods' sake.

[TeamPooka]

18. So you're saying they care? And that's why they kick them out

So you’re saying they care? And that’s why they kick them out. With no place to go with no organizations helping them
Kicking them out with no place to go With no relief organizations involved is wrong

[Mr.Bill]

6. They said on the local news they will be able to use a closed

Toys R Us store nearby to store all their donated goods, FEMA needs to get some trailers to the area for the winter. You can't live in a tent in the winter climate in that area. Especially with children.

[tosh]

12. The bad news is...

The counties that were hardest hit by Hurricane Michael have yet to see the first FEMA trailer or any short term housing.

Those are tRunp counties and he visited the area

Heckuva job, brownie, but

We just had a full week of torrential rains and nighttime temps in the high 30’s.

FEMA is FUBAR.

[lark]

17. Orange assmouth stole millions of FEMA funds to pay DeVos and other donors $750/day per child while

they are spending next to nothing for these kids except drugs to make them compliant. That money being used to torture children & their parents and going straight to drumpfs' top donors, with side trips for his pockets I'm sure, should be going for trailers and help for Hurricane Michael survivors and for those in CA who also lost everything due to climate change impacts.

[tosh]

19. Update on FEMA trailers for Michael victims:

It is said that they were expected to begin trickling in to the region yesterday. No word if that is actually happening. I saw a photo of a staging area for inspection and distribution near Marianna.

Anyway, just short of 6 weeks out, a beginning. Eleven counties in Florida to cover.

[olddad56]

7. they are not being forced to leave, they are being urged to leave..

and go to the county facilities because of the rain that is due on Tuesday evening.
At least that is what was being said on the local news, from the scene. ( I live about 90 miles away).

[Mr.Bill]

8. I have been through two evacuations.I never lost my home, fortunately.

My wife is a certified Red Cross disaster worker. I have spent some time at organized shelters. The fact is that there will always be a percentage of evacuees that are not comfortable at these shelters for various reasons. You can't smoke at all at a shelter that is at a school. You can't drink, but I guess you could hide it. No matter how much they are assured that immigration is not involved with shelters, undocumented immigrants fear anything the government has anything to do with. It astounds me that people would think they would want to vote. One thing the shelters are better at now is allowing pets. That used to keep people from going to shelters.


But right now, rain and cold weather is imminent and these people need a hard roof over their heads, they need bathrooms, showers, meals and basic hygiene. Every county has a fairgrounds and these facilities need to be pressed into service. They have buildings, parking, kitchens, everything you need for a large number of people.

This can all be done, but I think it's just the sheer number of people that is making it difficult to get it all up and running. We handled it in my county with schools, Churches, a Moose lodge and a Casino who opened their event center to us. The Salvation Army cooked, the Red Cross organized, provided cots and blankets and someone brought in a truck that was a rolling laundromat. But we were only dealing with a few thousand people here. What's going on in Paradise is on a much larger scale.

[olddad56]

9. there are shelters up and running in all of the local county fairgrounds around that area.

[Mr.Bill]

10. That's good to hear, I had not heard that yet.

Some of the evacuees got out of there in their RVs. A lot of fraternal organizations like the Elks and Moose have RV camping areas some even with hookups. These organizations need to open up to people needing a place tp park for awhile. Helping others in need is practically the mission statement for these organizations. This is their chance. Like I said we had a Moose lodge here that has opened up to refugees and fed people and did a fine job of it.

[Hekate]

11. I heard there is a heavy rain expected. If it goes badly, they could die in the debris flow...

I know you all don't like to hear it, but Walmart is being responsible to urge them to move on. Like right now.

Those poor souls.

[Brother Buzz]

15. The Chico Walmart is in a different drainage basin, Little Chico Creek

The Camp Fire drains (on the western perimeter of the fire) into Butte Creek which flows away from Chico.

Poor souls, indeed. Living in a tent is bad enough, but I hear norovirus is running rampant through the camps!

Oops, Little Chico Creek does run into the northern area of the burn.

[LittleGirl]

13. I can't even imagine

being in that situation.
Losing your home, losing loved ones and pets, neighbors and no where to go but to a tent in a god forsaken walmart no less. So stinking sad about it.
(Hubby and I were supposed to move to CA a few months ago but the job transfer fell through. Sometimes I just wonder and then this happens).

[dembotoz]

16. As much as I hate Walmart...

At least they did something