The Red Cross closed the shelter at the College of the Canyons after lunch today (January 20th) at 1:00 PM.  Shelter residents were informed yesterday of today’s closure.  They had been sheltering families evacuated from their homes in Santa Clarita due to flooding for 12 days.
Even though they have closed the shelter, the Red Cross will continue to aid families whose homes sustained major damage or were destroyed in the storm, by providing commercial lodging for another week.  In addition, when new housing accommodations have been made, those same families will be offered Red Cross financial assistance with first month’s rent and security deposit – these services are provided on a case by case basis and are free of charge to the victims.

As of this morning, a total of 127 displaced victims have sought refuge in the shelter where Red Cross caseworkers met with each affected family to provide immediate emergency assistance for food, clothing and shoes. Over 160 Red Cross volunteers and staff have worked around the clock to serve the displaced families.  More than 10,000 meals and snacks were served in the shelter and through Red Cross mobile feeding units working
daily in the affected areas. Thus far, the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles has committed over $40,000 in direct emergency relief for storm related incidents in the Santa Clarita Valley.

This has been the longest chapter shelter operation since the Northridge Earthquake eleven years ago this week.