United Way of Northern Arizona — How Agencies Came Together During This Fire Season

In less than two months this spring, three major wildfires dominated our news as they charred land, displaced residents, and destroyed structures in their path.

One of the few silver linings during those eight weeks was how well individuals, nonprofit organizations and local governments came together to deal with the crises.

“What I find in Coconino County is that everyone works together like a family,” said Joel Bunis, who joined Coconino County Health and Human Services in January as its Outbreak Response Division Manager. “It’s all about connecting people with what they need.”

The hub for these collaborations was The Assistance Center (pictured above), a temporary facility that operated out of The Guidance Center on Huntington Drive during the fires.

The center provided vital information and managed the intake process so people impacted by the fire could be quickly and efficiently provided with resources, ranging from temporary shelter to accommodations for pets to clothing and food.

Food and grocery cards, in fact, was the number one item needed during the emergencies, Bunis said. During fires, power was turned off in the affected areas, so many lost perishable items.

In most cases, people didn’t physically go to the Assistance Center to register for help. More than two-thirds of the requests were generated online, Bunis said.

Collaborating with the County during this time were numerous nonprofits, including American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Flagstaff Family Food Center, St. Vincent de Paul, The Guidance Center, and United Way of Northern Arizona. In addition to raising funds, UWNA also organized volunteer efforts to help clean out debris.

The community has now shifted its focus to potential flooding in the region, a likelihood that has increased with the new burn scars caused by this spring’s fires. It is anticipated that 800,000 sandbags will be needed to help homeowners prevent flooding. See below for more information on this massive effort and how you can help.

The United Way of Northern Arizona and Coconino County’s Flood Control District are partnering in an effort to fill and place 800,000 sandbags as soon as possible to help mitigate anticipated flooding this monsoon season.

We need your help – and we are in a race against time to help our friends and neighbors in Timberline, Wupatki Trails, Fernwood, and Doney Park protect their homes from post-wildfire flooding.

From now until Sunday, July 17, we will be holding daily “Sandbag 101” shifts from 8 am – Noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. To volunteer, please visit the UWNA Volunteer Hub. Once registered, volunteers will receive an email with additional information as well as the location to meet for their assignment.

Volunteers will be assigned primarily to filling, tying, and stacking sandbags for pickup. Requirements for all volunteers are:

Please bring heavy duty work gloves, hat, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle with you. Long-sleeve t-shirts are also recommended for sun protection outdoors.

Thank you for your willingness to LIVE UNITED!