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By Sharan Street
Published Oct 02, 2023

Many regions in California were hit hard by the 2022-23 winter storms. In Sacramento, the losses came in the form of a thinning of the urban forest. Many regions in California were hit hard by the 2022-23 winter storms. In Sacramento, the losses came in the form of a thinning of the urban forest. Image credit: Eric Johnson

Connectivity in a Crisis

In the modern world of niche media and streaming entertainment, it’s not often that the citizens of the United States of America share a simultaneous experience. One such occurrence will take place this week, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, conducts a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System.

This is the seventh time that this system will be used. An updated version of the Emergency Broadcast System—which delivered those familiar bursts of electronic noise followed by “This is a test…”—the Wireless Emergency Alert will simultaneously send a message to all of the nation’s cell phones. This will happen on Oct. 4 at around 5:20 p.m. Pacific Time.

This imminent event got us thinking. No, we weren’t thinking about ridiculous conspiracy theories, though predictably some folks are. Instead we thought it was an opportune time to contemplate the value of a smartphone in an emergency situation.

Making Radio Waves

This week we’re posting checklists for each of the counties we cover, offering information on resources that can help you stay safe during a local emergency. Each checklist is topped with a link to the county’s office of emergency services and specifics on how to sign up for local alerts. Counties may use different tech platforms to get the word out, but the end result is the same: real-time information dispensed simultaneously to your family, friends and neighbors. These are messages that could literally be lifesavers.

Many communities in California are lucky enough to have groups of local citizens who prepare not only to take care of themselves during a disaster but also to protect others. They form Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to assist first responders, train to do search and rescue, or form ham radio groups. California Local reporter Kimberly Hickok shares the story of how one such group of radio enthusiasts in the disaster-prone Santa Cruz Mountains works to keep the lines of communication open.

Listening Skills

Members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service hone their skills at various local events.
How local amateur radio operators can help in the next big emergency.

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San Benito County's Homepage
Direct your browser to https://sanbenito.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and San Benito County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

Where to Find Emergency Information in San Benito County

With the San Andreas Fault too close for comfort to San Benito County’s two cities, it should be a way of life to have a “go bag” packed and ready. Just as vital is to stay informed with digital resources just one touch away on our smartphones.

Disaster Prep: Alerts, Maps and Apps

Highway 25 is one of the few major roads in San Benito County. When disaster strikes, you’re going to want to know what’s up with traffic.
When disaster strikes, you’ll need to have these information resources available on your smartphone.

Get to Know a Group

San Benito County Historical Society logo San Benito County Historical Society

Since 1957, the Historical Society has devoted itself to collecting and preserving materials pertaining to the San Benito County of yesteryear.

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From Our Media Allies

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SanBenitocom logo West Nile Virus Found in North San Benito County Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes that tested positive for the West Nile virus have been found in a small unincorporated area of San Benito County.
Gilroy Dispatch logo DeRose Doubles Down with 2nd Tasting Room

DeRose Vineyards is a name well-known to wine lovers for its rustic cellar of a tasting room in the wilds of Hollister, on Cienega Road, smack in the middle of old California. The new tasting room on Fitzgerald Avenue in …
SanBenitocom logo Cal Fire Training Aims to Increase Defensible Space Efforts

A statewide program will allow qualified applicants to support Cal Fire in its defensible space and home hardening assessment and education efforts.
SanBenitocom logo California Condors Make Rare Appearance in Bay Area Preserves

Winged visitors have been casting their large shadows over Contra Costa and Stanislaus counties, with six birds tracked by preservation group Save Mount Diablo.
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Recent Local News

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• SBC Releases Landfill Expansion Final EIR

San Benito County released the final environmental impact report for the John Smith Road Landfill Expansion, and released notice of a Planning Commission special meeting on Oct. 11.

 (10/03/2023) → Benito Link

• Anderson Homes Announces ‘Giving Back Starts at Home’

Between Oct. 1, and Dec. 10, homeowners who purchase from Anderson Homes choose one of these nonprofits to be awarded a donation: San Benito County Arts Council, Youth Alliance, San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, BenitoLink and the Community Foundation for San Benito County.

 (10/02/2023) → Benito Link

• Hollister Police Department Adopts ABLE Program

Teaching officers to intervene when they see other officers violating policies is the goal of Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE), a project developed by Georgetown University Law Center.

 (10/01/2023) → Benito Link

• South Road Townhomes Project Gets Permit Extension

The Hollister Planning Commission approved an extension for a tentative map, conditional use permit, and site and architectural review for a subdivision of 14 townhomes near R.O Hardin Elementary School.

 (09/29/2023) → Benito Link

• Hollister Icon DeRose Debuts in San Martin

DeRose Vineyards in Hollister is well known to wine lovers for its casual atmosphere that somehow accentuates the serious intent of winegrowers Pat and Alphonse DeRose.

 (09/27/2023) → Edible Monterey Bay

• Pretty Good Advice Adds Second Spot in Downtown Santa Cruz

This qualifies as more than pretty good news. Pretty Good Advice in Soquel is welcoming a sister into the world.

 (09/26/2023) → Edible Monterey Bay
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Recent Statewide News

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• Cal Poly Humboldt Tree Research Will Help PG&E Reduce Outages, Wildfires

In an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire, Cal Poly Humboldt faculty and students have embarked on a three-year study to investigate tree health.

 (10/03/2023) → YubaNet

• Cal State Student Workers to Vote on Joining Union

Student workers at the 23-campus system say their pay is low, their hours are restricted and they get no sick pay. They are hoping to join the employees union to fix that.

 (10/03/2023) → CalMatters

• California May Ban Additives in Some Candies—But Not Skittles

The European Union has banned certain additives that are used in American candies and baked goods. California is on the cusp of prohibiting their sale by 2027.

 (10/02/2023) → CalMatters

• The Bay-Delta Ecosystem is Collapsing. Now California Has Dueling Plans to Save It

A long-awaited, controversial report weighs updates to standards that state officials say have failed to protect fish and wildlife. But environmentalists, Native tribes and others already are furious about how long this has taken—and the state is years away from taking action.

 (09/28/2023) → CalMatters

• When Your Abuser Has the Key to Your Cell

Survivors who were sexually assaulted while imprisoned got an audience at the state Capitol, sharing their stories while testifying at a California Legislative Women’s Caucus briefing about abuse by staff at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla.

 (09/26/2023) → The Sacramento Observer