El Dorado County Local News: Resilience

01/19/2022
As the most recent series of storms showed, power and communications infrastructure can be vulnerable, resulting in extended outages. The crisis kept amateur radio and neighborhood radio watch users busy.

01/09/2022
Fifteen days after a winter storm hit the Sierra Nevada foothills, power and communication outages continue and residents still face shortages, spoiled food, unplanned expenses, and other problems.

12/15/2021
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to California businesses and residents affected by the Caldor Fire from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

12/15/2021
Six months after the departure of Sierra Fund executive director Izzy Martin, the organization has chosen a new leader. Joan Clayburgh says she hopes to help hone and promote models of advocacy and environmental repair.

11/30/2021
The Tahoe Conservancy has decided to demolish the Motel 6, as well as other buildings on the property, to reclaim the natural land and stabilize it. The goal is to preserve the wetlands and other environmental features on the property.

11/25/2021
The nonprofit organization United Policyholders is partnering with local groups to provide $50,000 of wildlife recovery in relation to the California wildfires.

11/21/2021
The U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, El Dorado Irrigation District and the El Dorado County Resource Conservation District gave a presentation on the Caldor Fire. The meeting was recorded and can be watched online.

11/18/2021
After years of rolling blackouts from PG&E, Placerville has upgraded to a weather forecasting model called TechnoSylva to assist with proper preparation and safety.

11/16/2021
If your cell phone is more than a few years old, it might be time for an upgrade, as providers are phasing out 3G service.

11/01/2021
FEMA has denied El Dorado County’s request for individual assistance for Caldor Fire victims. The California Office of Emergency Services is appealing the decision, and county staff are exploring other avenues of support and resources.

10/28/2021
Pioneer is coming to town as an alternative to PG&E. Residents are given a choice, and there is an opt-out option. Community meetings have been held regularly to brief residents of all changes.

10/20/2021
Beginning Oct. 24, residents who use nine California area codes will be required to dial using 10 digits to make phone calls due to a change in federal rules aimed at creating a nationwide 988 crisis line. The following area codes are affected: 209, 530, 562, 626, 650, 707, 925, 949, and 951.

10/12/2021
A change to Pacific Gas & Electric’s power lines has dramatically reduced the risk of sparking wildfires. But as a result, hundreds of rural residents often lose power for hours, sometimes days. “It’s like camping,” said Barbara Melchin, a Santa Cruz Mountains resident.

10/10/2021
The Tahoe Weekly has released its first “Preparing for Wildfire Guide,” available as a free download. The guide compiles a series of articles that ran in August and September 2021.

10/10/2021
Even though not a single structure burned in the city of South Lake Tahoe, a preliminary estimate shows that the Caldor Fire cost tens of millions in lost economic activity to the region. But is that really the total? Experts believe it’s not clear how much fires cost the state each year.

09/29/2021
As containment of the Caldor Fire nears 91 percent, PG&E personnel are experiencing various challenges in restoring power. Crews are working on steep, loose terrain, and in some areas crews have to hand-dig holes to rebuild distribution lines.

09/28/2021
El Dorado County homeowners hit by the Caldor Fire can get free debris removal via the Consolidated Debris Removal Program, run by the California Office of Emergency Services. Structures must be 120 square feet or larger and on burned private property.

09/28/2021
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a package that includes $36 million for the California Tahoe Conservancy to restore forests and reduce wildfire risk at Lake Tahoe. It also includes $5.25 million to improve resilience to climate change impacts.

09/26/2021
Former homeless couple Becky and Ken Green are among the many who lost their homes when the Caldor Fire swept through Grizzly Flat. But that wasn’t the end of their troubles.

09/25/2021
Writer Marty Mendenhall reports on the variety of generators on the market now, explaining that consumers need to do their research to find the pricing and power suitable for their individual needs.