The official U.S. food insecurity rate rose to 13.5% in 2023 from 12.8% in 2022, according to data the U.S. Department of Agriculture released on Sept. 4, 2024. That means more than 1 in 8 Americans – about 47 million people – couldn’t get enough food for themselves or their families at least some of the time.
If you can’t afford to refill the fridge, find keeping a balanced diet too expensive, eat too-small portions, skip meals altogether, experience the physical sensation of hunger or lose weight solely due to lacking the money to put food on the table, you’re experiencing food insecurity.
It’s common for more than one of these factors to apply at the same time.
This trend may surprise you, given the attention the public, policymakers, politicians and the media paid to food insecurity at the height of the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world.
Once everything from public libraries to dentists’ offices shut down, there was a great deal of mobilization to help feed people during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Although the national food insecurity rate is significant, it doesn’t always reflect what’s happening everywhere. Rates vary a great deal between states, partly due to different levels of government support for people in need at the state and local level.
For example, the food insecurity rate in Oklahoma, where we both live and work, averaged 15.4% from 2021 to 2023. That was the fifth-highest rate after Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, and more than three percentage points above the national level for the three-year period.
We believe that food insecurity remains on an upward trajectory. Barring any major policy changes that continue to slow inflation and dramatically reduce the price of food in 2024 or 2025, this rate is unlikely to drop again in the Biden administration’s final year or the first year of the next president’s term.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The city of Clearlake on Sunday night issued a declaration of a local emergency as work continued in the Boyles fire area.
The fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m. in the area of Boyles Avenue and Dam Road, and quickly spread north, threatening Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus, Obsidian Middle School and thousands of homes on the east side of the Clearlake, said City Manager Alan Flora.
The Lake County Fire Protection District, Cal Fire and mutual aid partners fought the fire from the ground and the air. Flora credited their efforts with saving many structures.
At the same time, authorities called for evacuations on the east side of the city that displaced 4,000 residents, fire officials reported.
By Sunday night, forward progress had been stopped, and the fire was reported to be holding at around 76 acres and 10% containment.
“Current damage assessments indicate over 30 homes were lost, and the assessments will continue tomorrow morning,” Flora said.
The city reported that another 60 structures were damaged.
The Lake County Fire Protection District said 40 to 50 vehicles also were destroyed.
In a message to students and staff, Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Becky Salato said that the Boyles fire “has affected some of our schools and many of our families.”
With student and staff safety being a priority, Salato said that on Monday Obsidian Middle School, along with Blue Heron and Richard H. Lewis School will be closed for safety inspections.
Also to be closed Monday area W.C. Carle Continuation High School, Highlands Academy, Lower Lake High School and Lower Lake Elementary School. All other schools in the district will be back in session, Salato said.
On Sunday evening, the Governor’s Office reported that Gov. Gavin Newsom had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of resources to suppress the Boyles fire.
Flora, as the city’s director of emergency services, issued a Sunday night proclamation declaring a Boyles fire local emergency. The full proclamation is published below.
Flora said some of the evacuation zones had been cleared for repopulation as of 10 p.m.
Those zones included areas north of 24th Avenue and the Cache Creek Apartments, according to Nixle alerts issued Sunday night by the Clearlake Police Department.
However, areas south of 24th Avenue to Dam Road other than Cache Creek Apartments remained under an mandatory evacuation order, police reported.
At the height of the incident, nearly 9,100 Pacific Gas and Electric customers were out of power.
Flora reported that some evacuation zones still were without power due to damaged PG&E infrastructure. Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Monday, PG&E said crews were making repairs and that about 100 customers remained without power.
For those still under evacuation orders, a temporary shelter has been established at Twin Pine Casino in Middletown.
The city said all evacuees who need assistance or suffered a loss of their home should check in at the shelter at Twin Pine, even if they do not intend to stay there.
“This will allow the city and our partners to establish contact with you as we assist through the difficult recovery process,” Flora said in the Sunday night update.
Those unable to visit the shelter at Twin Pine should contact the city at 707-994-8201 and leave their contact information.
The city’s local emergency declaration follows.
PROCLAMATION BY THE
CITY OF CLEARLAKE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR THE BOYLES FIRE
WHEREAS, City of Clearlake Municipal Code Section 2-11.6 empowers the Director of Emergency Services (City Manager) to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the city is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the City Council is not in session; and WHEREAS, Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), authorize the City Manager to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City that are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and
WHEREAS, on September 8, 2024 the Boyles Fire was started near Boyles Avenue and 8th Avenue in Clearlake and quickly spread north quickly driven by high winds.; and
WHEREAS, after a fierce fire fight by various partners from throughout the region, and led by CalFire and the Lake County Fire Protection District, approximately 90 acres were scorched, approximately 30 homes were lost, Pacific Gas and Electric infrastructure was damaged, and significant private property damage occurred, of which the full extent is still unknown; and
WHEREAS, dozens of Clearlake families have lost their homes and property; and
WHEREAS, such recovery from such conditions is beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat and clean up; and
WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, ability to coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid, and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments will be critical to successfully responding to the impacts of the Boyles Fire; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager, as the City’s Director of Emergency Services, has the power to declare a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and Clearlake Municipal Code section 2-11.6.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED by the City Manager of the City of Clearlake as follows:
A. A local emergency exists based on the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property, as detailed in the recitals set forth above.
B. The area of the City which is endangered/imperiled within the footprint of the Boyles Fire and beyond.
C. During the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law and by ordinances, resolutions, and orders of this City, including but not limited to the City of Clearlake Emergency Operations Plan.
D. The City Council shall review and ratify this proclamation within seven (7) days as required by state law, and if ratified, shall continue to exist until the City Council proclaims the termination of this local emergency. The City Council shall review the need for continuing the local emergency as required by state law until it terminates the local emergency, and shall terminate the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant.
E. That a copy of this proclamation be forwarded to the Director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services requesting that the Director find it acceptable in accordance with State Law; that the Governor of California, pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, issue a proclamation declaring an emergency in the City of Clearlake; that the Governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State and Federal resources and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs.
DATED: September 8, 2024
_______________________________________ Alan D. Flora Director of Emergency Services
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Sunday night, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant, or FMAG, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the Boyles Fire in Lake County.
The fast-moving Boyles fire ignited earlier on Sunday in Clearlake, threatening thousands of homes and forcing the evacuation of residents.
The governor on Saturday proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County and announced the FMAG that was secured to support the ongoing response to the Line Fire.
“California is grateful for the Biden Administration’s ongoing support as our heroic firefighters and first responders work night and day to contain these challenging fires. We’ll continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to safeguard lives and protect property,” said Newsom.
The FMAG, which is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on cost-share basis, will assist local, state and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75% reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.
Earlier this wildfire season, California secured FMAGs for the Borel, Park, Thompson, French and Hawarden fires.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will hold hearings on rate increases for water and sewer systems, consider a hospital improvement district, and discuss eminent domain regarding a lease agreement.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
In three separate hearings timed for 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., the board will consider rate increases for the Northwest Regional Sewer System, the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 and County Service Area No. 2 – Spring Valley Lakes, respectively.
Protests to the rate increases, which will in some cases be substantial, must be submitted in writing before the end of the specific hearings.
At 2 p.m., the board will consider a resolution to form the Lake County Hospital Improvement District and set a date for a public hearing.
In an untimed item, the supervisors, sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, will consider not using any available power of eminent domain for the purpose of advancing the economic interests of private parties in connection with any property comprising the lease agreement between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and the Scotts Valley Energy Corp.
That lease pertains to district-owned property at 755 E. State Highway 20 in Upper Lake that the county is leasing to the Scotts Valley tribe’s company for the purpose of a biochar operation.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve training funding by Supervisor-elect Brad Rasmussen in an amount not to exceed $2,000 and direct administration staff to coordinate payments for the Nov. 18 and Dec. 9, 2024, training and orientation modules of the New Supervisors Institute.
5.2: Adopt a resolution approving an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agricultural Industrial Hemp Cultivation Program Agreement No. 24-0417-000-SA for July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, in the amount of $9,327.50.
5.3: Adopt a resolution fixing tax rates for local agencies, general obligation bonds, and other voter-approved indebtedness for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
5.4: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement between county of Lake and Crisis Support Services of Alameda County for after-hours crisis support services in the amount of $90,200 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for Aug. 13 and Aug. 20, 2024.
5.6: Approve the second reading of an ordinance to regulate smoking and commercial tobacco use in the unincorporated areas of Lake County.
5.7: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4, Cooperative Purchases, and (b) Authorize the IT director to issue purchase orders to Dell Marketing L.P. for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise licenses in the amount of $127,677.72.
5.8: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4, Cooperative Purchases, and (b) Authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order to Dell Marketing L.P. for Microsoft 365 G3 ‘Step up’ licenses in the amount of $28,890.
5.9: Approve two rental agreements for hangar space at Lampson Field Airport with Mr. Kevin Soto and authorize the chair to execute the agreements.
5.10: Approve renewal of the lease agreement between the County of Lake and Skypark Properties, LLC for the Lampson Field Airport Pilots’ Lounge and authorize the public works director to sign the renewal letter.
5.11: Approve the retirement of Lake County Sheriff’s Office narcotic K-9 Raider to his handler Deputy Matthew McCabe for the cost of $1.00 per DSA section 2.6.5.
5.12: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3109 Section 2-38 due to the unique nature of services; and, b) Approve the contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc., for the Emergency Childcare Bridge Program, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.13: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3110 Section 38.1 due to extension of annual agreements; and, b) approve the contract between county of Lake and the Regents of the University of California for training services, in the amount of $365,500 per fiscal year from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.14: Approve the contract between county of Lake and Chabot-Las Positas Community College District for Title IV-E Training, in the amount of $1,000,000 from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, approve the award of Bid No. 25-0693 for the 2024 Levee Patrol Road Gravel Repair Project, Upper Lake, CA, between Lake County Watershed Protection District and Coleman Construction, LLC, in the amount of $163,812.64 and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, consideration of an ordinance amending Sewer Use Ordinance (Appendix A) of the Lake County Ordinance Code increasing sewer use fees for the Northwest Regional Sewer System.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting as the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 Board of Directors, consideration of an ordinance increasing sewer use charges and amending Section 1.1 of Ordinance No. 2652 increasing the water charges and fees for Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3.
6.5, 10:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of an ordinance amending Section 1.1.A of Ordinance No. 2945 increasing the charges and fees for County Service Area No. 2 – Spring Valley Lakes.
6.6, 11:30 a.m.: Consideration of an informational presentation on the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.
6.7, 1 p.m.: Presentation and consideration of a letter of support for the Elevate Youth California: Youth Substance Use Disorder Prevention Program - Cohort 6, Standard Track funding opportunity.
6.8, 1:30 p.m.: Consideration of an agreement between county of Lake and Smart Easy Pay, Inc. (dba Easy Smart Pay).
6.9, 2 p.m.: Consideration and discussion of a resolution of intention to form the Lake County Hospital Improvement District and setting a date for a public hearing.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of Amendment No. 3 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services in the amount of $414,300 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
7.3: Consideration of the agreement between county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in the amount of $900,000 for FY 2024-25.
7.4: Consideration of Amendment Number One to the agreement between county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Lake County Wrap Program, Foster Care Program, and Intensive Services Foster Care Program for specialty mental health services in the amount of $5,700,000 for Fiscal Years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
7.5: Consideration of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between county of Lake and Konocti Senior Support Inc. for senior support counseling services in the amount of $360,249 for Fiscal Years 2023-2026.
7.6: Consideration of the following appointment to the Big Valley Advisory Council: Public member/tribal, Brandon Baeza.
7.7: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors, consideration of the Watershed Protection District not using any available power of eminent domain (including the commencement of eminent domain proceedings) for the purpose of advancing the economic interests of private parties in connection with any property comprising the lease agreement between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and the Scotts Valley Energy Corp.
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.
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