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
May 3, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEMPORARY EVACUATION POINT AND SHELTER LOCATED AT PORTERVILLE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY TRANSITIONING TO A CITY OPERATED SHELTER
On Friday, May 5, 2023, the operational hours and services at the Temporary Evacuation Point and Shelter (TEPS) located at the Porterville Army National Guard Armory (29 N. Plano Street) will be transitioning to a City operation. At noon on May 5, 2023, the American Red Cross and the County of Tulare will vacate the facility and discontinue providing shelter services. While the Mandatory Evacuation Order remains in place along the banks of the Tule River within city limits and the threat of potential widespread flooding due to the above normal snow pack, the need for a TEPS to assist those displaced is still necessary. Due the continued local emergency conditions, the Porterville City Council unanimously approved at its meeting on May 2, 2023, to continue the operations and support of the Armory TEPS, with the understanding that expenditures will not be reimbursable.
City staff has developed an operational and transition plan for the Armory TEPS in preparation of the departure of the American Red Cross and the County. Given the limited daytime TEPS population, the operating hours will change to 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. daily, with two staffed individuals, including a security guard. The Porterville Police Department will continue to conduct hourly checks of the facility and will be enforcing the 12-hour operations. The City is thankful for the dedicated volunteers at the American Red Cross for their assistance and guidance and for providing valuable services at the TEPS over the last several weeks, and also wishes to thank the County of Tulare for its support and coordination during this transition.
For additional local resources, please dial “211” or 1-800-283-9323. For questions about the TEPS, please email, housing@ci.porterville.ca.us.
