A couple of long, hot days after the West and the Building fires burned through parts of East County, local government agenices and service providers gathered at the Alpine Library to offer a helping hand to anyone affected by the wildfires.
A couple of long, hot days after the West and the Building fires burned through parts of East County, local government agenices and service providers gathered at the Alpine Library to offer a helping hand to anyone affected by the wildfires.
In the wake of all evacuations being lifted and all roads being reopened in Alpine, San Diego County Communication Officer Jessica Northup hopes that the library can serve as a “one stop shop” for useful information and assistance to anyone affected by the fires.
She said the county opened an assistance center at the Alpine Library to serve as a centralized location for people who have been impacted by the fires, “so that they have a ‘one stop shop’, to come in and get their questions answered and get help navigating through the rebuilding and recovery process,” Northup said.
There were 18 agencies present at the library including The Salvation Army, Team Rubicon and Hope Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR).
According to Salvation Army Captain Sean Kelsey, the Salvation Army provided canteen services in which people can get free water and snacks, and assistance with case management. Depending on the damage in each case, the Salvation Army can provide vouchers for clothing and household items or gift cards to Home Depot or Walmart.
Team Rubicon is an international disaster response agency that is focused in repurposing the skills of United States military veterans and provides services such as debris removal and structural demolition for free. Ken Wheatley is a veteran who has continued his tradition of service by being a part of Team Rubicon.
According to Wheatley, 37 homeowners and long-term renters inquired about Team Rubicon’s assistance on Monday.
“We actually got quite a few comments from people saying how fantastic it was that they had this sort of one stop shopping,” Wheatley said. “Needless to say they’re overwhelmed with what they’re dealing with and don’t know what they don’t know or don’t know where to go for help or what questions to ask, so to be able to go from table to table and agency to agency and get their driver’s license or birth certificates or get their house information, whatever it is they need assistance with, all in one place was a huge relief for many people.”
Hope AACR is a national organization that has been providing animal support to responders, residents and resource center workers alike in Alpine, according to Hope AACR volunteer LaWana Heald.
“Some of them [fire victims] might get to where they find it hard to fill out paperwork or talk, so having animals around gets them a little bit relaxed to where they can do what they need to do and the task at hand.”
Heald also said having dogs present at the Alpine Library makes the environment seem friendlier and calmer overall.
Some residents began seeking refuge in the library in the midst of the West Fire over the weekend. Debbie Westcott is an Alpine local who found a safe haven at the Alpine Library when her landlord suggested she leave her house due to the heat and the proximity of the West Fire.
“It gives me a safe, comfortable place to be. I had foot surgery the other day so I needed to stay off my feet,” Westcott said.
Westcott also observed that life in Alpine seems to be at a standstill.
