Press Release
Kern Valley Sun

To assist residents affected by the recent Piute Fire/Flood, the offices of Kern County Supervisor Jon McQuiston and Supervisor Don Maben have established the Piute Fire/Flash Flood Phone Bank.

“We knew that just because people may be out of immediate danger, they still may have questions or need help. This really has been a collaborative effort,” said Kimberly Mullins of the Kern County Fire Department. “The Kern River Valley is such a great community,” she said.

Phone bank volunteers, left to right front, Red Ehrenbach, Jeanne Swiatlowski, Carolyn vanBenthuysen, back row left to right, Jack O’Cain, Senior Deputy Sam Smith, Lynn Robinson, and Rita Ramirez man the hotlines set up to answers questions from residents affected by the Piute fire and/or flash floods.

The purpose of this phone bank is to be a centralized collection point for people that are seeking assistance with issues such as roads, water needs, and rehabilitation of property, claim forms and other issues that have arisen from these incidents. This phone bank will be staffed with members from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Service Unit from the Kern River Valley and will reside within the Lake Isabella area.

The call takers will gather information such as: Name, address of affected property, Contact phone numbers, email address, issue that needs attention.

“Each day at 3 p.m., the collected information is gathered and given to Judy Hyatt, Supervisor McQuiston’s field representative, who will then direct it to the appropriate agency for follow-up.

Days and times of hotline, starting July 18 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day until further notice.

The following phone bank numbers have been established: 760-549-2121, 760-549-2122, 760-549-2123, and 760-549-2134.