Red Cross Opens Shelter In Tehachapi Following Storm

Bakersfield, Calif., October 15, 2015 - The American Red Cross of Kern County is opening a shelter in Tehachapi for local residents or stranded motorists who have been affected by Thursday's storm. The shelter is located at the Monroe Continuation School, 126 Snyder Street in Tehachapi. Disaster volunteers will be on scene providing shelter, water, meals, hygiene items, and more for the impacted families.

The Red Cross has been monitoring the local weather and working closely with local law enforcement to determine where there is a need.

"The uncertainty of El Niño means that our teams have been working hard to prepare for the worst case scenario," said Amy Smith of the Red Cross, "So we've had supplies strategically positioned, ready to go for something like this."

The shelter will be open as long as there is a need. Caseworkers will be available to work one on one with a families if their homes were damaged in the storm.

The Red Cross urges everyone to be prepared for storms this season. With the threat of El Niño ahead, it is important for every family to be prepared for flooding, landslides, power outages, and more. Make sure everyone in your home is prepared for disasters big and small. Have an emergency kit always ready to go with essential items like food, water, medications, and flashlights.

Read up on flood, landslide, and winter storm preparedness tips online at redcross.org or through the free Red Cross Emergency App. Learn more about making a family game plan by visiting redcross.org/preparecentralvalley.

The Red Cross is able to assist Kern County residents in times of disaster thanks to the generosity of the community. Donating to your local chapter is easy through the website, phone, or by text message. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit http://www.redcross.org/kerncounty, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The American Red Cross Central California Region provides services to the ten counties across Central California that is home to more than 4 million people. For more information, please visit http://www.redcross.org.