San Benito County Local News: Resilience


All Local Resilience News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: Many of Robert Kerbeck’s neighbors in Malibu Park lost their homes in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which left behind lots where only chimneys still stood.
Give Your Home a Fighting Chance in a Wildfire

California wildfires are becoming larger, more frequent and more ferocious. ‘Malibu Burning’ author Robert Kerbeck shares simple steps you can take to protect your home.

Image caption: 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.
Disaster Prep: Alerts, Maps and Apps

When disaster strikes, you’ll need to have these information resources available on your smartphone.

Image caption: The Pajaro River levee broke during the 2023 atmospheric river storms, flooding the town of Pajaro.
Is California Ready for More Extreme Weather Driven by Climate Change?

This year, a series of extreme events in California and around the country have wreaked havoc, driven by climate change. How prepared are we for things to get worse?

Image caption: Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, says the organization researches areas of need to help donors direct their contributions.
What Is a Community Foundation?

By channeling funds to a number of nonprofits working on various issues in a given region, community foundations help solve big problems throughout California.

Image caption: Just because record rains have been falling, the state’s water crisis remains.
What Is Drought? Probably Not What You Think

2023’s torrential rainstorms have eased California's drought conditions. But there’s a lot more to drought than the amount of rain, and this drought isn't over yet.

Image caption: With CERT training, volunteers can learn firefighting skills.
Emergency Teamwork

Fires, floods, earthquakes—California’s got it all. And CERT volunteers are ready to step in.

Image caption: Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners

As California insurance companies have revoked the fire policies of thousands of homeowners, the state has taken steps to get them covered again.

Image caption: Though it’s the most famous, the San Andreas Fault is just one of more than 500 active faults in California.
Battening Down for the Big One

Making it through the earthquake is the easy part. The hard part is surviving in the chaos that follows.

Image caption: Supercell storms are just one of many weather phenomena in the era of climate change.
The New Vocabulary of the Climate Change Era

The climate change era has created a whole new set of terms for a wide variety of storms and other weather phenomena. Here are some of the most important.

Image caption:
How Not to Feel the Burn

California residents can turn to these public and private entities to help prepare for wildfires and protect their property.

Image caption: A Pyrocumulus cloud generated by the Dixie Fire in July, 2021.
What is Fire 'Containment?' That and Other Terms, Explained

What does it mean when firefighters call a fire "contained?" Here's a brief guide to commonly used fire prevention terminology.

Image caption: A smoky blanket of particulate matter hovers over San Francisco’s skyline.
Getting Acquainted With AQI

Learn what's getting into Californians’ lungs and why it matters.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

07/23/2024
Image for display with article titled Firefighters Battling Two Incidents in San Benito County

Fires burning near riverbed in Hollister and near Hernandez Reservoir in Paicines.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

07/22/2024
Image for display with article titled Central Coast Community Energy Launches Residential Battery Rebate Program

IA home battery allows customers to store more renewable energy generated during the day.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/07/2024
Heat waves have killed hundreds of Californians and cost billions of dollars in the past decade, according to a new report from the state insurance department.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

07/03/2024
Image for display with article titled U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grants County $900k

Funding will aid the conservation of 22 federally listed and at-risk species.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

07/02/2024
Image for display with article titled Cal Fire Battling Blaze in Paicines

Fire is burning near Paicines Post Office and growing rapidly.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/02/2024
Nearly every major environmental group in California opposes a bill that would modify the state’s signature environmental law to speed up upgrades to power lines. Supporters say it would help free the state from fossil fuels and make the grid more reliable, but opponents fear it would damage state parks.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

06/24/2024
Image for display with article titled Hollister Council Terminates 2 Fire Service Contracts

In a 4-1 vote the Hollister City Council on June 18 agreed to terminate the city’s fire services contracts with San Benito County and San Juan Bautista. According to council members, this is a move to raise the fees it charges for those services.

California Local Pin Marker From Los Angeles Times...

06/21/2024
Before the first official day of summer, almost 90,000 acres have been burned in California wildfires.

California Local Pin Marker From Los Angeles Times...

06/17/2024
With multiple fires already burning in the state, forecasters predict the coming fire season will be "very active."

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/13/2024
Tens of thousands of California homeowners, especially those who live in areas at risk of wildfires, have lost their insurance or have to pay more to keep coverage. One after another, major companies have pulled out of the state, many citing the cost of claims.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

06/08/2024
Image for display with article titled Condor Update 2024: Central Coast Population Stands at 100

Nine chicks have hatched and two remain to hatch this season.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/07/2024
The two-day CalMatters Ideas Festival wrapped on June 6 with more than a dozen events examining critical policy issues impacting the lives of millions of Californians.

California Local Pin Marker From Los Angeles Times...

06/01/2024
Cal State Fullerton researchers released findings of ancient floods in Southern California which indicate the state may be more prone to mega flooding than previously thought.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

05/24/2024
Image for display with article titled Hollister Hires New Fire Chief

Jonathan Goulding most recently served as Watsonville’s Fire Department battalion chief.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

05/22/2024
As funds for climate change programs are cut, Democrats and environmentalists are pushing for a bond measure on the ballot to restore some funding.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

05/15/2024
Image for display with article titled Newsom Releases Billions for Mental Health Housing Ahead of Schedule: ‘Time to Deliver’

California voters narrowly passed Proposition 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s measure to fund mental health housing. He’s prodding counties to use the money quickly.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

05/01/2024
In their April 30 meeting, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors were updated on local road projects by Public Works, including the New Idria Road, which will be completed by the end of May.

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

04/29/2024
Image for display with article titled As May Approaches, Cal Fire Offers Fire Prevention Tips

With the month of May beginning this week, with its warmer weather, lower humidity and drying vegetation, Cal Fire is urging Bay Area homeowners to do all they can to protect against fire.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

04/29/2024
The California Coastal Conservancy and the California Department of Conservation have provided a $700,000 grant for local agencies to update their Community Wildfire Prevention Plans.
Join Us Today!