Emergency supplies available for Redding residents as flood impacts continue 

As city officials continue to assess damage created by storm water over the last week, the Red Cross is offering emergency suppliesto Redding residents whose homes were damaged. Supplies include cleanup kits, gloves and garbage bags and will be available at 3609 Bechelli Lane in Redding on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday Dec. 27- 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Stephen Walsh, communications director for the Red Cross’s Gold Country Region, said today by phone that a Red Cross evacuation center that opened briefly in Redding has been closed since Dec. 25.  

Walsh said Red Cross teams are moving out across the city to provide damage assessments of several dozen homes over the coming days, a process which can facilitate funding for recovery efforts. Those who have a primary residence affected by storm damage are encouraged to call 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information.

City officials have not yet announced how many residences and businesses are believed to have been impacted by flooding but they’re encouraging residents to also report flood damage to the city saying the information will help staff better understand the impact of the storm and prioritize response efforts.

City officials said earlier this week that storms brought rain that fell so fast and hard that it pushed debris into parts of Redding’s more than 200 miles of stormwater drainage systems, causing blockages that resulted in flooding. Earlier this week, several roads were closed down due to standing water and one 74-year old man perished when his car became submerged, Redding police said, after he drove past a law enforcement barricade.

Flooding in Redding began on Dec. 21, the same day that a new interim city manager, Kari Kibler, took charge. Kibler, who also serves as the city’s personnel director, stepped in to fill a short gap in city leadership left by the retirement of the former interim city manager, Steve Bade. Redding’s newly-hired city manager William Tarbox is scheduled to begin his role in January.

City council members held a special meeting yesterday to declare a state of emergency related to the flooding. The declaration streamlines permitting and other emergency response efforts and supports access to state and federal funds to aid in recovery efforts.  

Shasta County has also declared a state of emergency which Shasta supervisors plan to make official during a special meeting early next week. Earlier this week, Gov. Gain Newsom also issued an emergency declaration for a number of counties affected by storm systems this holiday season, including Shasta as well as several SoCal counties including Riverside and Orange. 

In Redding, those who need to dispose of debris after the storm including furniture, mattresses and carpets can learn more at the city’s waste page. And for those who need to report a blocked storm drain, sinkhole, area of erosion, downed tree or other infrastructure issue, they can do so on the city’s emergency page, which is also where the latest updates on flood response can be found.

12.28.2025 2:25 pm: We have updated the story to include an update from the Red Cross that cleanup supply distribution will also occur on Monday, Dec. 29.

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