This is a devastating time for our county. With a major natural disaster following on the heels of the tragedy at the Borderline within hours, many in the community are in shock, and left feeling stunned and helpless.
The Museum of Ventura County, in light of this unprecedented time, has decided to modify our planned programs in order to focus on collecting and preserving the stories that are evolving right now, in rapid pace, with more facts emerging every day.
As your museum, as the community’s repository of the stories of yesterday and today, we are reaching out to the community and actively gathering photos, artifacts, documents, and more that tell the stories of the fires and the Borderline shooting. We are thankful to be working with the Orange County, Florida, Regional History Center, which documented the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016; they are helping to guide us as we gather stories, memorials, tributes, and the community’s response to this terrible event.
Although most programs will continue, we are limiting our planned programming through the end of the year. A new schedule of upcoming events will be sent out soon as we finalize our schedule.
We do not yet know the full stories of the Woolsey and Hill fires, as they continue to burn. We hold deep and abiding gratitude to the first responders who are currently working to get those fires under control. We do not yet know the full story of the Borderline shooting. We hold those affected in our hearts. What we do see now are the outpourings of love, the lines of people who dropped what they were doing to give blood for the victims, and the memorials and tributes to those who were killed.
It is our job to gather and safeguard today’s history for future generations. We are thankful to have your support as we strive to do just that.
Sincerely,
Kate McLean and Elena Brokaw
Board Chair and Executive Director
Below are resources available for anyone who may need them, as well as opportunities for those of you who are looking for a way to help those in our community who are going through these events. (List courtesy of EDC)
Mental Health Resources
CA HOPE is offering counseling and support services in English and Spanish for those affected by the fires. Find out more information by visiting their Facebook page
California HOPE or by calling them (805) 833-9495.
Shelter/Transportation/Goods and Supplies/etc.
Thomas Fire Help is supporting those affected by the Borderline tragedy and wildfires with information and recovery resources. Visit their website for more information.
Thomas Fire HelpResources for Borderline Shooting
As a response to the shooting, our friends at the Ventura County Community Foundation in coordination with City of Thousand Oaks, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Amgen Foundation, California Community Foundation, and others, have set up a specific fund to serve victims in recovery and healing. To donate to the fund and learn more please visit their website
www.vccf.org or contact Bonnie Giles 805.330.6681.
Disaster Recovery Center Location- TBD
The immediate shelters that have been set up to care for those displaced by the fires will be consolidated and within a week or less a disaster recovery center will be created for residents in Ventura County. The SBDC plans to have staff presence at this facility once location is determined to aid businesses who have suffered loss.
Evacuation and Alert Notices
1. Sign up for real-time emergency information regarding wildfires and up-to-date evacuation information by registering on
www.vcemergency.com
