PRESS RELEASE
City of Porterville
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
www.ci.porterville.ca.us/newslist.php
For more information contact:
Yuriko Velarde, Administrative Analyst
yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us
April 13, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORTERVILLE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY SUCCESSFULLY OPENS AS TEMPORARY EVACUATION POINT AND SHELTER
On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the Temporary Evacuation Point and Shelter (TEPS) successfully transitioned from Porterville College to the Porterville Army National Guard Armory. The TEPS at Porterville College first opened on March 10, 2023, due to Evacuation Orders for the Springville area along the Tule River due to flooding caused by atmospheric river storm activity. The collaborative planning and preparation for the TEPS transition began at the beginning of April by City of Porterville and County of Tulare staff when Porterville College indicated it would be needing the use of its gymnasium facility by mid-April for upcoming events and graduation ceremonies. With the Evacuation Order of the banks of the Tule River within city limits still in effect due to continued erosion, as well as Evacuation Warnings along the entire Tule River in effect, a replacement TEPS location needed to be identified, considering as well the TEPS in Dinuba and Exeter had already closed and the TEPS at the Tulare Fairgrounds was also closing on April 11, 2023.
Thanks to the invaluable assistance and support of State Senator Shannon Grove, State Senator Melissa Hurtado, Assemblyman Devon Mathis, Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dennis Townsend and Porterville City Council Member Greg Meister, the City was able to secure access to the Porterville Army National Guard Armory and establish it as a replacement TEPS location in collaboration and coordination with the County. In order to safely open, many facility improvements and maintenance had to be made to the Armory to meet American Red Cross facility requirements. City staff had been active at the Armory over the past several days making necessary life safety improvements and facility/grounds maintenance in preparation for the transition.
With the valuable guidance of the American Red Cross, which continues to provide TEPS services, resources were identified needed to open and support the successful transition. ADA-compliant portable restrooms, mobile ADA-compliant showers, mobile laundry services were secured, as well as the Porterville Police Department is providing animal care and shelter coordination. The City is also providing custodial services, hourly law enforcement service checks, and refuse services, and the County is providing 24-hour security and TEPS resident assistance and services.
The City wishes to thank the many State, County and local agencies and non-profit partners that collaboratively coordinated in the successful TEPS transition, and the dedicated volunteers at the American Red Cross and faculty and students of Porterville College for their assistance, flexibility and support while the TEPS was located at the College.
The Porterville City Council has scheduled a Special Council Meeting for Friday, April 14, 2023, beginning at 11:00 am in Council Chambers at 291 N. Main Street to consider approval of a draft License agreement between the City and the California Military Department for the temporary use of the Armory.
