Red Cross Still Exploring Options For Moving Evacuation Center

According to the American Red Cross, the nonprofit is now considering a “couple of options” for placement of the evacuation center, which is scheduled to close at the convention center.

“We’re considering facilities that will suit the needs of the households in our care currently,” said Mary Simpkins, assistant director of external relations for this disaster relief operation.

“There are a couple of options that are being considered and that will be finalized.”

Simpkins told Pasadena Now an announcement will be made after everything is finalized. She did not provide additional information about possible locations.

The Red Cross generally works with local government and other organizations to determine when it is safe and appropriate to close these centers based on recovery efforts. The timeline also depends on the needs of the affected population.

Last week, a spokesperson from the group told Pasadena Now the group was searching for a location in Altadena, which was ravaged by the Eaton Fire.

“We just want to make sure that everything is clear and direct and squared away before we communicate the location out. Center in just two days.”

In other news, the Red Cross told Pasadena Now that just 160 people remain in the convention center. That number is down from 223 last week. The transition team continues to work with impacted households to identify and help execute recovery plans and help families take the next step and move into more stable long-term housing.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, residents urged the City Council to keep the Convention Center shelter open and to expand housing assistance to people affected by the Eaton Fire.

“The residents in the shelter don’t have access to closed donations and many of them do not have shoes, only sandals,” reported Ash, a shelter volunteer. “There are still families in the shelter with children that do not have housing or family to help. Pasadena and Altadena are a community and we need to help our Altadena families without pointing the finger as to whose problem it is. When Pasadena has the resources to help the few families that are still left in the shelter with nowhere to go with a sense of urgency, why are there still families with young children in the shelter?”

City officials opened the emergency center at the convention center less than two hours after the Eaton Fire started.

Driven by hurricane-level winds, the Eaton Fire led to the deaths of 17 people, destroyed 9,000 structures in Altadena and Pasadena, and scorched more than 14,000 acres, leaving thousands of local residents displaced.

Many of those people found out their homes had been destroyed the day after the fire began. In many cases, Altadena residents lost all of their belongings as well.

At one point, more than 1,000 people were staying at the facility.

The City later ceded control of the evacuation center to the Red Cross, which has handled disasters around the world.

However, the evacuation facility was slated to be open for just one month and close last week before the extension was granted.

An extension was granted after local residents and elected officials expressed concerns about the decision to close the facility.

“Last week it was announced that the Red Cross had been granted an extension to continue operating the center at the converter center for about a week.”

But if the plan is to move this week, it could be hampered by weather and Lincoln’s Birthday, a federal holiday that will force the closure of some facilities.

Last week, members of the City Council asked for an update on the transition plans.

However, those plans were not discussed publicly on Monday.

The center provided comprehensive support services at the facility, including a wide variety of free food services, free shelter accommodations, with the Humane Society providing on-site boarding for small pets.

Mental health services were also available to those affected by the fire.