ACRC Service Providers Step Up to Support Evacuated Sonoma DC Residents

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View of evacuation site at Dixon May fairgroundsBuses and drivers arrive from UCP to help outview of evacuation site from the groundBuses and drivers from ResCare lend a hand

With the planned closure of Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), ACRC staff and service providers have been working collaboratively with developmental center staff to transition clients into their new community homes.   Due to the devastating fires that occurred in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, residents from SDC were evacuated on October 9th to area shelters.   Residents were initially sheltered in two locations in the city of Sonoma until October 11th when, due to a shift in the fire towards the city of Sonoma, all residents were evacuated to the Dixon May Fairgrounds.   Clients and staff from SDC took up residence at the fairgrounds through October 22nd.   During the evacuation, staff from SDC, Department of Developmental Services, Office of Emergency Services, local fire and law enforcement, the National Guard and regional center staff worked tirelessly to meet the needs of our clients.  

Service providers from ResCare, Elwyn, Harvey Estate, Fillon Home, EnCare and Lucero Manor visited with the clients and continued cross-training and transition planning they had begun previously at SDC.  This resulted in our clients being able to move from the evacuation site into their new homes in the greater Sacramento area.  During the course of the evacuation, members of the Community Placement Plan Unit, managed by John Decker, worked seven days a week monitoring the clients both at the evacuation site and in their new homes.

When the evacuation order was lifted, ACRC Service Providers United Cerebral Palsy and ResCare, on very short notice, played a critical role in providing safe transport for the non-ambulatory clients to return to SDC.  UCP noted that they traveled a total of 3200 miles during the return day and safely transported 151 residents and staff. 

When the crisis developed and the clients needed us most, there was a remarkable effort from all those involved. We are proud of our staff and service providers that worked relentlessly to ensure all client needs were met.