EOU Opens Facilities to Support Evacuees

EOU Opens Facilities to Support Evacuees

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is opening its main campus to evacuees and those affected by area wildfires, including dry camping for RVs, WiFi, and access to the EOU Library, Hoke Union Building, the climbing wall, and the campus Food Pantry.

“Our priority is to provide a safe and welcoming space for those who have been displaced by the wildfires,” President Kelly Ryan, Ph.D. said. “We want to provide a place for our community to find relief from the smoke and heat.”

EOU is set to offer dry-camping accommodations for up to 10 RVs in the parking lot adjacent to Dorian Park off 6th Street. Campers will be limited to two pets per RV, and the University is currently unable to house livestock. 

The Hoke Union Building, housing the Food Pantry, will be open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and additional hours over the weekends as needed. Evacuees and those impacted by the heat and smoke can also access the University Library and Rock Climbing Wall. Wi-Fi access is available across campus and the Library has desktop computers for public use. EOU is in contact with the Red Cross and the Office of Union County Emergency Management to provide resources as needed to accommodate those impacted by the fires.

Those accessing campus are asked to check in with the Campus Safety and Security Office in Loso Hall 154 before parking RVs on campus or using the facilities. Campus Safety will provide guests with a temporary parking pass for RV parking.
For more information on EOU’s support for evacuees including building hours and services available, please visit eou.edu/wildfire-support or call Campus Safety and Security at 541-962-3911. For more resources in the community, visit redcross.org.