Sonoma Valley closes last evacuation center

High school evacuees were ressasigned to Red Cross centers elsewhere.|

As of Monday evening, the last two evacuation centers in Sonoma Valley had closed. The evacuees at Sonoma Valley High School and at Sonoma Raceway were all reassigned to Red Cross-operated centers.

Over the next few weeks, the County will be assessing locations for longer-term shelters.

According to various officials reached by telephone on Monday, there are no plans at this time for there to be an evacuation shelter or a Federal Emergency Management Agency hub in Sonoma Valley.

In Santa Rosa, more than 100 people lined up on Mendocino Ave. seeking information and access to services when a newly-established FEMA hub first opened on Saturday.

The Local Assistance Center opened on the first floor of the Press Democrat building at 427 Mendocino Ave. The center brings together federal, state and local agencies as a “one-stop shop” to help people rebuild their lives.

People who have been left homeless by the fire can receive money for temporary housing and recoup losses from FEMA. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will also issue new driver’s licenses at the center for people who lost theirs in the fire.

Residents – even those who are covered by homeowner, commercial and auto policies at the time of the disaster - are urged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362.

A regularly updated map of the shelters available in the area is available at pressdemocrat.com.

Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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