Assistance Center Opening To Help Coachella Valley Recover From Hilary

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — A "Local Assistance Center" operating in coordination with local, state and federal agencies will open next week in Cathedral City to help all Coachella Valley residents and businesses impacted by Hurricane Hilary, county officials announced Thursday.

The center will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 6-8 at the Cathedral City Library, 33520 Date Palm Drive.

Agencies will be available to provide services that include housing, behavioral health, social services, CalFresh, and assistance with completing forms to report damages, according to the office of Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, whose Fourth District includes the Coachella Valley.

“Hurricane Hilary affected our entire Coachella Valley, including every city and unincorporated community in the valley,” Perez said. “That’s why this Local Assistance Center is open to all residents and businesses in the Coachella Valley. This center will be helpful for people to connect to agencies that are working to help the valley recover.”

According to Perez's office, the following agencies are anticipated to be available at the Local Assistance Center:

County Departments

• Riverside University Health System – Public Health
• Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health
• Riverside County Office on Aging
• Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
• Riverside County Department of Public Social Services
• Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions Department

Local, State and Federal Agencies

• City of Cathedral City
• California Department of Motor Vehicles
• California Department of Housing and Community Development
• Social Security Administration
• Non-Government Organizations:
• Salvation Army
• American Red Cross
• Team Rubicon
• FIND Food Bank
• United Policy Holder
• TODEC

The Riverside County Emergency Management Department is encouraging residents and businesses to report damages via an online form at http://RivCoReady.org/ActiveEvents or by calling 2-1-1. The form is not an application for assistance nor a guarantee of any benefits. Instead, the form assists the County Emergency Management Department in determining the extent of damages from the natural disaster and provides information that can be used to help the county qualify for any state or federal disaster programs that may help individuals, Perez's office said.