A Local Assistance Center was recently put in place in North Highlands following an apartment fire. Photo courtesy of Sacramento County

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - You may not know about Sacramento County's Local Assistance Centers (LAC), but when residents are hit with disasters, the centers become vital locations for people who need help getting their lives back on track.

A recent apartment fire in North Highlands forced more than 50 residents from their homes. Many escaped with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing. The Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services (OES)​ immediately sprang to action, gathering an essential team of county staff and nonprofit groups to begin the process of helping those affected start rebuilding their lives.

Within hours, a respite area was set up for residents who didn’t have anywhere else to go. Located on Peacekeeper Way at McClellan, the Office of Emergency Services and the Red Cross set up cots and provided food in the temporary facility. Most of the fire victims were able to find their own place to stay overnight.

As those affected began adjusting to the predicament, the Office of Emergency Services began the second phase of their plan. Staff began contacting additional organizations to assist in the creation of the Local Assistance Centers. State agencies and nonprofit organizations joined the county and offered important information and resources to help those affected to take their next steps toward recovery.

The Local Assistance Centers supporting the North Highlands fire recovery effort included state agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles which assisted in restoring destroyed identification, and the Department of Insurance, which assisted with filing claims.

The county provided housing assistance and vital records replacement. The Salvation Army and Red Cross gave residents the necessary contacts for vital services. Donated food and clothes were also available for those who walked in looking for help and a therapy dog, provided by HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response, was available to give comfort to those who needed it.

This Office of Emergency Services service, along with the emergency shelter, is designed to help ease some of the anxiety brought on by traumatic events while families figure out how to move forward. The Local Assistance Centers’ designed mobility allows the Office of Emergency Services to meet those who need immediate assistance where they are located.