Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-mail from Ted Sandberg re Butte Cty Warming Centers Sweeney, Kathleen From: Ted Sandberg [revdrths@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 11:45 AM To: jerilyn.anderson@caloes.ca.gov District 4; Teeter, Doug Cc: Kirk, Maureen; Connelly, Bill; Wahl, Larry- BOS Subject: Butte County warming centers Jerilyn Anderson, In December and January, CHAT (Chico Housing Action Team) set up an emergency cold weather shelter program for the homeless of Chico. They did this because of our concern that the homeless, and those whose homes were not heated, would unnecessarily suffer this winter. They have accomplished much on their own through the use of volunteers. While we applaud CHAT for their work, they don't have the funds, nor the energy to continue this work indefinitely. They also have no plans to set us cooling centers,this summer. it is our understanding that the state of California has a plan in place to address both cold, and hot, emergencies. This plan for the cold is presented in the California Emergency Management Agency's "Contingency Plan for Extreme Cold/Freeze Emergencies: A Supporting Document to the California State Emergency Plan." We have talked with John Gulserian from Butte County's Office of Emergency Management. He has told us that Butte County will open warming centers if the temperature drops to 2 © or below, and all the emergency shelters are full, our reading of the State's plan is that there is no requirement for the shelter to be full, and the plan should be implemented when the temperature drops to 320. We also believe the plan states that possible warming centers are to be found before a cold weather emergency is declared. We write to you to determine if we are correct in our reading of the "Contingency Plan for Extreme Cold/Freeze Emergencies." Is Butte County mandated to open warming centers when the temperature drops to 32'? Do other counties in California have plans for warming centers in place? We have taken our concerns to the Butte County Board of Supervisors, but they have failed to act on our concerns. We hope that you will be able to provide guidance for us as we seek to meet the needs of those who have no warm place to go during the winter months. if you or your agency is not who we should contact, we would very much appreciate you guiding us to the proper state agency. Thank you for any help you can give us. Sincerely, Ted H. Sandberg Greater Chico Homeless Task Force, chair Andy Holcombe former Chico Mayor