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Lakepoort, Calif. -- A press conference with information about the Valley Fire held Thursday at the county courthouse.

 

 

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local, state and federal officials on Wednesday gathered to speak about the Valley fire recovery effort, and encouraged community members to register for the federal assistance that the president made available through special action this week.

On Tuesday, at the request of Gov. Jerry Brown – with strong encouragement from Congressman Mike Thompson – President Barack Obama granted a presidential major disaster declaration for the Valley fire, an action meant to aid the recovery process.

The Valley fire is the third most damaging fire in California's history, according to Cal Fire.

So far it has claimed four lives, burned more than 76,000 acres and 1,910 structures – including more than 1,200 homes – and left an estimated 3,000 people homeless, authorities reported.

Officials said that more than 20,000 people – nearly a third of the county's residents – had been evacuated at the height of the fire.

Lake County was still reeling from the Rocky and Jerusalem fires, which had together burned close to 100,000 acres earlier this summer, when the Valley fire broke out Sept. 12.

“It's been a hell of a last 90 days for Lake, but if any county can get through it, Lake County will,” State Sen. Mike McGuire said at the gathering of local, state and federal officials in Middletown on Wednesday. 

McGuire said the infrastructure in the south county is having to be completely rebuilt. He said Pacific Gas and Electric has replaced more than 800 damaged poles, and at one point during the peak of its response had 1,000 people in the county making repairs.

“Lake County will become stronger in the weeks and months to come,” McGuire said.

Officials said Wednesday that they're still crunching the numbers in the process of calculating the damage the county has suffered as a result of the Valley fire.

“The devastation is significant. There's no question about it,” said California Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci.

Ghilarducci said it's conceivable and realistic that the total damage will be hundreds of millions of dollars.

Lake County Administrative Officer Matt Perry said an initial look at property rolls shows a $2.1 million loss to the county in property tax revenue. He said he anticipates additional losses in sales tax, transient occupancy tax (or bed tax from resorts and other hospitality facilities) and other forms of revenue.

With Obama's declaration issued, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened up a variety of forms of help to residents and businesses impacted by the fire disaster.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate arrived in Lake County to tour the damage, and he joined state and local officials on Wednesday to urge community members to take advantage of the assistance being offered to them.

“The loss of life in any disaster is one that touches everybody in the community,” he said. “Our mission now is to focus on the survivors and the challenges they're going to face in rebuilding.”

In that process, Fugate said it was critical that people register for FEMA assistance so that the process of responding to the needs in Lake County can begin.

Officials urge community members to call 1-800-621-3362 (those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 1-800-621-3362); apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov.

If those routes aren't sufficient, “Tell me where the people are and we'll go to them,” Fugate said.

Fugate – himself a former firefighter and paramedic – also warned, “This fire is a symptom of the underlying drought, and the drought is not over,” adding, “There will be fires that we cannot stop.”

The focus has to be on on life, safety and evacuation, Fugate said. People need to be ready to evacuate with little or no notice. In the case of the Valley fire, people had little or no time to prepare, he added.

If firefighters are telling you to go, Fugate said, it's because they know they can't stop the fire.

The Valley fire's behavior was erratic, and it moved faster than people are used to. He said when evacuation orders are given, people can't delay. “Delay can be deadly.”

For community members concerned about replacing homes that couldn't be covered under fire insurance due to location, Fugate said those uninsured losses trigger FEMA assistance.

He said once registered, it takes from hours to days to get the needed assistance.

As for the possibility of temporary FEMA housing, Fugate said his agency will work with state and local officials to determine the needs and how to respond.

He said FEMA will have a role in oversight for the recovery, making sure the federal funding is spent property and that it gets to the people who need it.

Ghilarducci said the focus must now become the next phase – recovery. That will bring with it a series of challenges for everyone.

“This won't be an easy task,” he said.

With everyone working together at all levels of government, as well as nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, “We can make this better,” he said, adding he has seen recovery time and again following disasters.

Ghilarducci said Gov. Brown has directed all state agencies to assist Lake County with the recovery process.

He said Lake County's recovery process ahead is a marathon, not a sprint.

“Working together we will be able to overcome and make things better,” Ghilarducci said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) and his Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) on Tuesday held his office’s annual Women of the Year Awards ceremony.

At the event, held at Woodland Community College, three incredible Lake County women were honored for their contributions to their communities.

“Today, we’re identifying and celebrating women who are outstanding leaders, women who have contributed to the betterment of their communities,” Garamendi said. “The women we honor today come from many backgrounds. Some are mentors in their profession. Others are tireless volunteers for charity. Every single one has made a real difference and transformed lives.”

Lake County's honorees include Barbara Christwitz, community leader; Gloria Flaherty, child and family advocate; and Toni Scully, agriculture leader, advocate for fair farm labor.

Christwitz is the founder of Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake, a nonprofit organization that leads neighborhood clean ups of trash and debris. She is dedicated to making Clearlake a better place.

In addition to Citizens 4 Clearlake, she has been an active community member with an extensive volunteer resume. She volunteers for the Lake County Time Bank, Lake County Co-op, and is a coordinator of monthly Peace Prayer dances. 

Christwitz helped establish the Highlands Senior Service Center Garden, and is a leader in the Girl's Circle sponsored by the Lake County Family Resource Center.

She has been a tutor specialist at Yuba Community College for the past 10 years, and is lauded for being a giving person with an inexhaustible spirit who takes pride in her community.

Flaherty is the founding director of the Lake Family Resource Center. Lake FRC is a family resource, referral and support center that has grown to serve 1,400 families and 4,500 individuals annually, acquired independent facilities and expanded programs over the years under her leadership.

As a member of the Kelseyville School Board, Flaherty helped establish the first Education Foundation in Lake County. She also assisted with the development and operation of a Domestic Violence Shelter in Lake County.

She also has served many years on First 5 and helped to secure funding for the Early Head Start program.

Two winters ago, Lake County experienced a severe drop in temperature that was adversely affecting the homeless population in Clearlake. Flaherty responded without delay and opened a “warming center” at one of the Lake Family Resource Center locations to provide shelter and respite. She had no budget or supplies at the time, but she opened the doors of the center immediately, secured food donations, cots, volunteer staff and pulled it together, keeping the center open two months.

A resident of Lake County for over 40 years, Scully shares in the ownership and management of Scully Packing Co. which packs, stores, ships and markets pears grown by Lake, Sacramento Delta and Mendocino County families.

Scully is a strong advocate for the pear industry and farm labor reform. In 1996 following a revision in the Child Labor Code that would have prevented local teens from working during the pear season, she was the driving force behind pulling local leaders and the state senate to pass a bill that allowed Lake County teens to continue to work the harvest. This bill continues to be renewed annually today.

She cares deeply for her farm workers and their families as evidenced by her continuous efforts to educate and work with local, state and federal policy makers. 

In 2006, Scully made the front page of the New York Times when Lake County and farming communities across California were experiencing severe labor shortages during harvest. A proponent of a reformed guest worker program to improve the health and safety of migrant workers, Scully worked with U.S. State Dianne Feinstein in an attempt to pass the AgJobs bill.

Scully continues to advocate for a fair farm labor law that will provide agricultural employers with the stable, legal labor force they need while providing farm workers with the health and safety they deserve.

Following the award presentation, Congressman Garamendi facilitated a discussion with the 170 people in attendance on issues important to women.

“We’re here to focus on the policies of this nation that provide support and opportunity for women and families,” Garamendi added. “I want to make sure that women are encouraged from an early age to reach their true potential. I think Congress can help more young girls stick with their dreams and pursue a rewarding career in whatever field inspires them.”

Issues discussed included: 

· Rural broadband access and the ability of women to reliably work at home, both in terms of starting their own business and in working in a flexible time arrangement;

· Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields of the study and the need for more robust mentorship and encouragement from an early age through college;

· Ways employment can be structured to give women with families a rewarding work-life balance;

· Unequal pay for equal work and the systemic undervaluing of women’s work product;

· The experience of women in collaborative settings where the ideas of women are disregarded until restated by men and the need for women to lay claim to their ideas in these settings;

· The compounded disadvantage of women who are also persons of color or disabled;

· The need for more investment and better coordination in workforce development programs; and

· Human trafficking and the need to be vigilant when women and children may be victims.

Every year, the Office of Congressman Garamendi solicits nominations from the community for women who deserve to be acknowledged for their selfless work.

WIN is Congressman Garamendi’s standing Advisory Committee focused on identifying issues important to women and families in the Third District and on solutions that Congressman Garamendi can take back to Washington.

The remaining 2015 awardees include:

· Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, city councilwoman, Winters – Yolo County;

· Andrea Armstrong, community leader, Williams – Colusa County;

· Constance Boulware, city councilwoman, Rio Vista – Solano County;

· Zenobia Brokenbrough, veteran advocate and peace activist, Williams – Colusa County;

· Becky Brummet, special education, California Teachers Association, Orland – Glenn County;

· Preet Didbal, city councilwoman, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Dawn Dowdy, track coach, mentor, Hamilton City – Glenn County;

· Joanne Ellis, community leader, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Paula Emigh, retired teacher, Woodland – Yolo County;

· Graciela Espindola, youth advocate, Live Oak – Sutter County;

· Margaret Fernandez, community leader for Hispanic advancement, business development, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Elvia Garcia, community organizer, Davis – Yolo County;

· Angie Gates, community organizer, Olivehurst/Marysville – Yuba County;

· Mary Jane Griego, county supervisor, Olivehurst – Yuba County;

· Alma Hickel, community volunteer, Colusa – Colusa County;

· Sandy Holman, cultural competency educator and mentor, Davis – Yolo County;

· Jane Johnson, community organizer, mental health advocate, Fairfield – Solano County;

· Amandeep Kaur, chancellor’s science fellow, advocate for underrepresented student groups, Davis – Yolo County;

· Barbara LeVake, county supervisor, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Dionne McCullar, business leader and community volunteer, Fairfield – Solano County;

· Jan E. Meyer, youth advocate, Live Oak – Sutter County;

· Norma Montna, lifetime advocate for persons with disabilities, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Cathleen Olsen, nutrition advocate, Winters – Yolo County;

· Dorothy Pooley, ombudsman, advocate for seniors, Willows – Glenn County;

· Ramona Prieto, peace officer, public servant, role model, Davis – Yolo County;

· Deidre Robinson, business leader, mentor, Vacaville, Solano County;

· Evelyne Rominger, community leader, mentor, Winters – Yolo County;

· Liesl Schmidt, community leader, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Marie Azevedo Spooner, lifetime of community giving, Williams – Colusa County;

· Cherie Stephens, community leader, Yuba City – Sutter County;

· Jennifer Terra, educator – physical education, diversity advocate, Davis – Yolo County;

· Susan Young, educator, agriculture advocate, Live Oak – Sutter County.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Burns Valley Elementary School first- and second-grade students assisted in the ceremony to lower the community flag at Austin Park in Clearlake. 

The students were joined in the ceremony by members of the Clearlake Police Department, Clearlake Public Works and the Park Study Club.

Also on hand were American Legion Post No. 437 Commander Jon Rogers and Officer John Compani, to whom the flag was relinquished. 

Rogers said the post will hold a flag retirement ceremony at a later date, dependent on the weather, as proper retirement requires burning of the flag. Boy Scout Troop No. 44 will assist in the ceremony. 

The Park Study Club purchases a giant new flag for the city every year. It is raised in the spring and lowered in the fall. 

Club member Virginia Sibbitt said the flag costs about $600, purchase of which is funded through a number of fundraising endeavors. 

Those who would like to contribute to the costs of the flag, may contact Sibbitt at 707-994-7335. 

Sibbitt said the club currently consists of 37 members, whose efforts are primarily focused on providing educational scholarships to area youth. 

She said any assistance in purchasing the city's flag would be greatly appreciated.

Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A fund established to help victims of Lake County's wildland fires is continuing to grow, and so far has distributed tens of thousands of dollars to help those in need.

As of Wednesday, the total amount raised by the Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund – which started as a collaboration between Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) and North Coast Opportunities (NCO) – totaled just over $300,000. 

Donations continue to arrive daily, the organizations reported.

Of that total amount raised so far, a community-based managing committee has reviewed hundreds of applications, verified resident status and the losses of those who applied, and has already distributed over $96,000 in funds to individuals in the affected areas.

The purpose of the Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund is to help those impacted by the fires take care of the immediate and unexpected expenses incurred as a result of evacuation and the loss of property. 

The fund is especially helpful for the many under and uninsured residents hit hard by this tragic wildfire experience that is now considered to be the third most devastating fire in California history. 

The Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund is meant to be a nimble operation and provide relief in real time to those who need it most.

“Hotel stays, gas money, toiletries, loss of work, all those sorts of things that many people have had to pay for since the evacuation, those are the expenses for which the fund is intended,” said Carolyn Welch, NCO’s CFO. “Our intention is to get the funds out as quickly as possible to help with immediate needs.”

Each application is different, therefore the amount given varies. However, any Lake County resident from the impacted areas can apply.

“MLCU is gratified by the amazing response from our credit union members as well as from the many folks from both in and out of our area that have dug deep and showed both their love and caring for the many victims of the tragic fires of the past month or more,” said Richard Cooper, MLCU president and chief executive officer. “We are honored to be able to assist in the effort and thankful for the ongoing partnership with North Coast Opportunities that allowed us to get this process moving so quickly.  We are committed to continuing to work toward a full recovery for all the affected areas of Lake County.”

Many donors have contributed substantial amounts of money, and even small donations contribute to the whole.

“Our hearts go out to our own team members who lost their homes as well as the countless others who experienced loss,” said Cooper. “We hope that the funds collected here can somehow jump start the road to recovery – in so many ways.” 

When the Rocky and Jerusalem Fires hit Lake County, NCO and MLCU created the Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund to help those impacted. 

In a few short weeks they collaborated to raise funds, advertise the effort, write and translate applications to the fund, create a community-based managing committee to review applications, and verify the losses of those who applied.

The applications for relief funds continue to come in daily to the NCO office and more funds are needed. 

If you want to donate to this important community restoration and relief fund you can go in person to any MLCU branch, or send a check to MLCU made out to NCO with “Lake County fire relief” in the notes field. 

There also is a PayPal account set up to accept online donations, which can be found on the front pages of both the NCO and MLCU Web sites. The website links take donors to a secure PayPal page. 

NCO and MLCU do not take any administration fees so that all donations go directly to those in need.  

If you would like to apply for fire relief funds, simply download an application at www.ncoinc.org and follow the instructions. Applications are available in English and Spanish.

For more information on how to donate and how to apply for funds, contact NCO Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Welch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Now in its 11th day, the destructive Valley fire was pushed closer to full containment on Wednesday, while firefighters kept its acreage from growing.

The Valley fire's size remained at approximately 76,067 acres on Wednesday evening, with containment up to 82 percent, Cal Fire reported.

Officials have so far not given an estimate of when they think the fire will be fully contained.

The damage assessment tally remained the same on Wednesday, with a total of 1,910 structures destroyed, of which 1,238 were single-family residences and 23 multi-family residences, officials reported.

Cal Fire said improving containment lines, mopping up hot spots and rehabilitation of impacted areas continues, with approximately 2,937 firefighters remaining assigned to carry out that work on the incident.

Overall resources continued to drop on Wednesday, with 253 engines, 72 hand crews, 45 water tenders, 20 dozers and 10 helicopters remaining assigned, while many others have been released, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said that at 5 p.m. Thursday, the mandatory evacuation order for the Anderson Springs community will be lifted.

That leaves just the community of Cobb – where the fire started – still under mandatory evacuation.

Cobb residents have voiced frustration about not being able to go back to their homes after a week and a half.

In response, local and state officials have maintained that the delay in repopulating Cobb is due to ongoing issues with fire suppression and safety concerns – including downed lines and dangerous trees – as well as the work of restoring utility services ahead of residents returning home.

On Thursday, the evacuation center at the Napa County Fairgrounds will close by noon, Cal Fire said.

Shelters remaining open include a Red Cross-run shelter at Grace Church, 6716 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville, and a shelter overseen by the county of Lake located at Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway in Middletown.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.