California: The Park Fire in northern California began July 24 north of Chico and quickly grew out of control, in part due to exceptionally hot, dry conditions. It is the fourth largest fire ever in California’s history. Tens of thousands of residents in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties evacuated, and many homes and other structures burned.
New Mexico: Fires in New Mexico affected multiple communities in June, leading to a major disaster declaration by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire burned over 25,000 acres near Ruidoso, New Mexico and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. At least two fatalities occurred. Mass evacuations were necessary, and the area also suffered widespread property damage and road closures.
CERF+ is connecting with local partners on the ground to learn more about the needs of local artists and offer resources to craft artists who were affected.
If you are a craft artist or artisan affected by the fires, please visit our recovery resources and submit an application for our Emergency Relief program. For any questions about the application process, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.
Disaster Recovery Resources for Artists
In addition to our Emergency Relief grant, CERF+’s Studio Protector also has resources to support artists as they begin to assess and re-enter their damaged studios, including:
• Protect Your Art Studio from Hurricane/High Wind
• Protect Your Art Studio from Wildfire
• Recovery after a Wildfire
• Protect your Art Studio from Power Outages
• Assessing Potential Hazards
• Unsafe Building Conditions to Look Out For
• Salvage DOs + DON’Ts
• Save Your Family Treasures
• Staying Safe During Cleanup
• NCAPER Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief
• Stopping a Mold Outbreak After Water Damage
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides confidential, multilingual crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including COVID-19. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to reach a trained counselor 24/7, 365-days-a-year.
Please be safe, and let us know if we can do anything to help.
Finally, for those who are able to, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Your support directly helps craft artists in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters.
