Nearly 50 people have registered for services at an American Red Cross shelter in Napa following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck near American Canyon early this morning, a Red Cross spokesman said.
Nineteen families containing 47 people have registered at the shelter at Crosswalk Community Church at 2590 First St., Red Cross spokesman Woody Baker-Cohn said.
Baker-Cohn said the church opened around 9 a.m. as a place for people to come get food, drinks and information about the services they can receive following the quake.
However, he said by noontime it was clear that the church would have to open as a shelter because most of the people that came were renters with no insurance or family in the area and would need to stay overnight.
Baker-Cohn said there are cots, hot meals, health services and crisis counselors available at the shelter for any displaced residents.
Baker-Cohn said people have come by to drop off donations, but Red Cross officials are encouraging financial donations only because they cannot accept perishable food unless it is from a licensed kitchen.
Clothing donations are also “a train wreck for us” because of the need to clean and sort the clothes, he said.
“Money will enable people to rebuild their lives,” he said.
Red Cross officials will reassess on Monday how long the shelter should stay open, Baker-Cohn said.
The gymnasium at the church is able to accommodate 100 people and there is another shelter also open at Florence Douglas Center at 333 Amador St. in Vallejo, he said.
More information about the Red Cross can be found online at www.redcross.org.
James Lanaras, Bay City News
3:27 PM: A second Red Cross evacuation center has opened to help anyone without shelter after this morning’s 6.0-magnitude earthquake near American Canyon.
The first shelter is at the Crosswalk Community Church in Napa.
That one is at 2590 First St., and is open for overnight stays.
Red Cross officials have opened a second center at the Florence Douglas Center, 333 Amador St., in Vallejo.
That center is also open for overnight stays, according to Red Cross officials.
Currently, Red Cross officials say they have enough supplies to assist those affected by the quake. Therefore, the organization is not accepting in-kind donations of water, clothes or other material goods at this time.
