The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with state and local partners, continues to provide recovery resources to our community following two significant earthquakes affecting the county.
CURRENT SITUATION
The Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center will transition to a Recovery Operations Center beginning Monday, January 9, following a three-week response activation.
The Red Cross Overnight Shelter in Rio Dell will close tonight, January 6, at 5 p.m. Residents displaced due to the earthquakes and still in need of temporary sheltering accommodations should contact the county’s Long-Term Recovery Line at 707-441-5000. Individuals whose homes have been inspected and tagged by local building inspectors, or who have questions regarding earthquake-related sheltering assistance, are encouraged to contact this line to discuss eligibility and sheltering options. As part of the Long-Term Recovery Program, facilitated by the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), eligible individuals may be provided hotel vouchers and other sheltering assistance. The Long-Term Recovery Line is available Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Individuals and families displaced or impacted by the recent and ongoing severe weather in Humboldt County are encouraged to contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for guidance and sheltering assistance.
RECOVERY RESOURCES
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Water and nonperishable food items continue to be distributed at the Rio Dell Community Resource Center, located at 406 Wildwood Ave, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the month of January.
Free hot meals are available for community members impacted by the earthquakes and recent severe weather at the Rio Dell Community Resource Center January 7-13, from noon to 4 p.m.
A representative with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services is also on site Mondays through Friday at the Resource Center to assist community members with applying for services such as CalFresh replacement, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, the Transportation Assistance Program, courtesy applications to other counties and referrals to other community resources.
Additional food assistance programs are available through Food for People. To find a distribution near you, visit: foodforpeople.org/need-food.
SBA DISASTER LOAN OUTREACH CENTER
Homeowners, renters, business owners and certain private non-profit organizations impacted by the earthquakes may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) to help cover losses due to the earthquake. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.
The SBA will be opening a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Rohner Recreation Hall, located at 7 Park Street in Fortuna, on Monday, January 9 to provide in-person assistance to applicants. This center will be open through Friday, January 27. The center will be open Mondays - Fridays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., closed Monday, Jan. 16 for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
STATE ASSISTANCE
Those in need of additional disaster and recovery assistance from the state are encouraged to review the following information booklet:
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Local businesses impacted by the earthquake are asked to complete a Business Recovery Survey, located online here. This survey was created by the County’s Economic Development Department, GoHumCo, and is being utilized to track, monitor and quantify business losses in Humboldt County following the earthquake. As of Jan. 3, 2023, businesses have reported a total of over $1.4 million in losses.
For more business support resources visit: https://www.gohumco.com/379/Economic-Earthquake-Recovery-Response
STAY INFORMED
The most important thing you can do while the community recovers is to keep informed.
For updated information regarding the Humboldt County earthquake response, please go to humboldtsheriff.org/emergency and visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter.
PRINTABLE RESOURCES