As El Niño brings uncertainty about unpredictable and potentially dangerous weather, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria (GIC) notes it is well-equipped in the event of an emergency, with large indoor and outdoor spaces, an industrial-sized kitchen stocked with necessities, and basic supplies.

Under normal circumstances, these features equip GIC to serve the more than 700 girls and young women who access their programs.

However, in the event of an emergency, they would allow the organization to respond to a crisis by offering food, shelter, and other resiliency resources to the community, GIC said.

“Our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold, but our commitment to resilience extends beyond the girls we serve, to reach their families and the broader community that helps them thrive,” said Jamie Collins, executive director.

“That includes ensuring the Carpinteria community has the resources it needs to remain strong, before, during and after an emergency,” Collins said.

Today, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, at 5315 Foothill Road, said it stands prepared to be activated as an emergency shelter in coordination with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, the city of Carpinteria, and the Red Cross, with a capacity to house up to 500 individuals when needed.

The 2017 Thomas Fire and 2018 debris flow revealed how disasters impact families differently, GIC said.

“Many residents lacked access to emergency alerts, safe shelter, and reliable food sources. These events exposed deep inequities in emergency preparedness and recovery,” GIC said.

In the wake of these tragedies, GIC said it began strategizing as to how it could deepen its commitment to making families more resilient and offer more resources that would strengthen the community’s ability to withstand and recover from crises.  

Carpinteria community residents especially need centrally located resources, as the area can become isolated during freeway closures, according to GIC.

In partnership with the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Santa Barbara County, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria helped establish one of the region’s early Resilience Hubs when it participated in Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative’s 2023 Resilience Hub pilot program.

Edison International continues to help fund the program on an annual basis. 

Since then, the organization has participated in yearly staff and community training on emergency management protocols, secured further resources for emergency preparedness, and strengthened its capacity to respond when community needs arise.

GIC also offers training for families to make their own emergency preparedness plans and serves as a year-round resource for local girls and families.

For more about Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, email information@girlsinc-carp.org or visit www.girlsinc-carp.org.