As the Challenge Penticton race approaches, hotel rooms are disappearing as an option for those coming to Penticton from fire-struck areas of the province.

That鈥檚 not to say the city doesn鈥檛 have room for evacuees 鈥� volunteers with Emergency Social Services and staff at the South Okanagan Events Centre set up concourse on Monday.

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Though local ESS director Bonny Billups said those cots likely wouldn鈥檛 be as comfortable for evacuees as a hotel room would be.

鈥淩eally nice having the hotels rather than putting them into group lodging, because they鈥檙e just, it鈥檚 a lot kinder,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ot and a blanket and meals, you get in the group lodging.鈥�

With that in mind, Billups said those who won鈥檛 be able to stay in a hotel room should be seeking space to stay with friends or family.

鈥淭he Challenge race takes up most of the hotels in town, so we鈥檙e going to encourage people, stay with your friends and family if you can,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 provide billeting to different families, but if they have somewhere to stay and they need some assistance, come and see us.鈥�

That aid will come largely in the form of groceries and incidentals, and the ESS also works with the Red Cross to reunite family members.

Billups also put out a call for any hotels or motels that have vacancy to contact the ESS at the Penticton Community Centre.

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鈥淭hat would be very helpful,鈥� she said, adding that there isn鈥檛 a serious concern that an influx in evacuees this week would overload the emergency shelters.

鈥淲e can put people into group lodging, as well,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we are encouraging people to try to find places to stay and then come in and ask for assistance with groceries and that kind of thing.鈥�

Around 10 people are being put up in hotels that Billups is aware of, and they鈥檒l be able to stay for at least for a few days.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e in for the full seven days from when they were issued their referral. The hotels have been very kind in helping us out that way,鈥� she said.

鈥淚f hotels have any space left for another seven days, we would appreciate knowing that. Because that鈥檚 something that we鈥檙e 鈥� so we don鈥檛 have to phone all the time. They can call in to our reception number and let us know what they鈥檝e got available at their hotel.鈥�

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As of Tuesday morning, 132 evacuees registered with the ESS in Penticton, meaning even if all those not staying in hotel rooms were sleeping in the SOEC, there鈥檚 room for another 378 spaces immediately available for evacuees.

Currently, the major hurdle for the ESS if an influx of evacuees were to come to Penticton would be processing power. Billups told the Western News on Monday that she had around 30 volunteers working with her, but she鈥檚 looking to train another 50.

But as it is, Billups said part of the allure for those who have come to Penticton was the lack of a lineup at the emergency operations centre.

While Billups did say there was somewhat of a rush on Monday, it slowed down into the evening, and no rush has been reported Tuesday morning.

Those who do come to Penticton have one important piece of advice from Billups:

鈥淩egister, register register. That is so important to go in and register,鈥� she said.

鈥淚f they don鈥檛 register, they can鈥檛 get assistance. If they need assistance, we鈥檙e here to help them.鈥�

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