Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott pitches in, helps Rita victims

For the most part the hoopla about Hurricane Rita was much ado about nothing  at least for area residents.

Prescott and Nevada County received some much needed rain and cooler temperatures from the storm, but nothing compared to what had been predicted. Some reports had the region receiving anywhere from 10-16 inches of rain and winds up to 50 miles per hour. While the county was hit with high winds, the deluge failed to materialize.

According to Cale meteorologist Davis Benton, the south part of Nevada County received 4.34 inches of rain from Rita, and 5.44 inches during the month.

Benton added this brings the annual amount to 29.15 inches, which is about 12 inches below normal for this time of year.

Phil McAdams, Prescotts weather watcher said Rita dropped 4.37 inches of rain in down, bringing the months total to 6.39 inches.

Benton said the majority of damage done in the south part of the county was from downed trees and limbs.

Jim Cross, director of the Nevada County Emergency Management Services said most of the work from Rita came in getting a shelter ready for refugees. Otherwise, the damage done was from downed trees and limbs across the county.

Before the storm hit, he said, efforts were made to find a shelter. Originally the idea was to use the National Guard armory, but there was a delay in getting permission. Instead, the Potlatch Building at the Nevada County Fairgrounds was used. This turned out to be a better place as it has air conditioning and the armory doesnt.

Volunteers from the city and county, along with the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce pitched in to get mattresses from the old hospital and wash them. These were set up in the Potlatch Building for refugees to sleep on. Cross said First Baptist Church donated linen for the beds.

The Prescott Police Department, he said, provided security for the evacuees. Assistant Police Chief Morris Irvin spent part of one night with them to insure their protection. In addition, officers shuttled the refugees to the new gym at Prescott High School so they could shower and clean up.

Local restaurants provided food for the refugees, while individuals also brought foodstuffs to the Potlatch Building.

Carol Newton, with the Chamber, said about 32 people stayed at the shelter, though another 18 stopped, rested, ate and left.

Those stopping at the shelter were asked to register when they came in. This was to help keep records of where people were and to be able to do criminal background checks to make sure those stopping werent wanted by the police anywhere.

Supplies, such as bottled water, sanitary wipes, canned foods and snacks were left over from the drive to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. These were set up on the stage in the Potlatch Building so people could get what they wanted, when they wanted to.

In addition a coffee pot was kept going, pretty much night and day during the weekend of Sept. 24-25.

A satellite, donated by Todd Cross, was set up and hooked to a television donated by Bakers EZ Pay. This allowed the refugees to track Rita and see what was happening, that is until a gust of wind knocked the satellite down and broke the lens. A second satellite was brought in and set up by Gerald McLelland

Hometown Video and Tanning donated a television and DVD player, along with several movies to help keep the children occupied.

One of the refugees had her three cats along. The cats were housed under the metal canopy used to show rabbits and chickens during the fair. During a lull in the storm she and Peggy Lloyd checked on the cats to make sure they were all right. A sheet was tied to the cages to help keep some of the wind off of them.

Local residents volunteered their time an energy to sit with the refugees, answer any questions they may have or simply talk to them when they felt like talking.

Initially, though, most of the travelers were still in shock. They huddled together in familial units, glad to still be together and alive.

One of the refugees, a 16-year-old girl, had a tube in her chest. Arrangements were made to make sure she could receive dialysis treatments if needed. Another young man suffered from seizures, while an infant required special baby formula.

Officers with the PPD bought batteries for a boom box to be used in the event the power went out. Fortunately, there was only a single blip in the electricity.