On Sunday night, flames swept into Santa Rosa and other cities across the region with little warning. At least 24 people have been confirmed dead, with hundreds displaced and nearly 300 still reported missing.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents from hotel owners to teachers and students to local government officials to relief workers are marshalling help those to affected. Here's what they've been up to in the days since the devastation began.
1. Farms are taking in displaced animals, and high school volunteers are working around the clock to care for them.
Local students learning animal care and agriculture at Vintage Farm have been rescuing dogs, goats, horses, and other pets and farm animals and housing and feeding them in the teaching farm's facilities.
"I've actually been having to make the kids go home," teacher Emmalee Casillas told the Napa Valley Register. "They're probably pulling eight to 10 hours each on average."
The Sonoma Valley High School farm is also accepting large animals.
2. Hotels are offering rooms to evacuees at steep discounts or for free.
3. Two local Boys and Girls Clubs sites are opening to all children during the day in the wake of widespread school closures.
4. Dozens of facilities across the affected area are currently operating as shelters.
5. The U.S. postal service is still delivering mail.
In a statement issued to The Mercury News in San Jose, postal service district manager Noemi Luna revealed, "A few customers asked the carrier to leave their mail if the mailbox was still standing," a request the carrier decided to honor.
The Sacramento Bee has compiled a list of requests and opportunities to help on their website, located here.
Unlike many disaster relief scenarios, local government and agencies are requesting supplies. The Sacramento Bee compiled a list of shelters, many of which are in need of bedding. The City of Sonoma and the staff of the local school district were requesting following items for their shelters as of Oct. 9: non-latex gloves, heavy duty garbage bags, adult diapers, baby wipes, prepared lunch foods, coffee creamer, to-go coffee cups, and ground coffee.
To read more of Eric March's article, please click here.
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