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San Benito County Public Safety Articles



Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Sheriff investigates fentanyl exposures at jail

From Bay City News Service Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonsen is drawing attention to a rash of fentanyl overdoses and exposures at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, he said in a release on Wednesday. Thirteen inmates and two …

Benito Link logo LOCAL NEWS
Caltrans announces updated timeline State Route 198 re-opening

Information provided by Caltrans District 5 A complete closure has been set up at State Route 198 and Warthan Creek Bridge while multiple locations on a stretch of State Route 198 between west of the city being worked on simultaneously …

SanBenitocom logo LOCAL NEWS
More rain leads to more rescues in San Benito County

The latest round of storms to hit South Valley has brought a seemingly endless onslaught of downed trees, mudslides, power outages, local flooding and road closures that left many residents and commuters stranded. In San Benito County, authorities rescued at …

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
More than 9,000 in South County lose power due to storm

Thousands of PG&E customers throughout South County were without power Tuesday afternoon due to strong winds and extreme weather from the latest atmospheric river storm that struck the region. As of 2:45pm March 14, more than 9,000 electricity customers in …

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Hollister runs short of power as PG&E substation reaches capacity

Customer demand for electricity in Hollister is beginning to challenge the available supply as PG&E works on increasing capacity at the Hollister substation. While the project is still in the design phase, work on the substation will not be completed …

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County evacuates RV Park because of flooding

Like any other day, 55-year-old Jose Montoya left his home March 10 around 8 a.m. to go to work in Watsonville. He made it 700 yards before he ran into a closed road and turned back. The city of San …

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Three people rescued from Hollister structure fire

Three people were rescued from a burning home on Nash Road in Hollister the night of March 8, according to authorities. The structure fire displaced at least nine people, and the cause of the blaze is under investigation. The Hollister …

SanBenitocom logo LOCAL NEWS
San Benito County issues evacuation orders

San Benito County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of Mission RV Park and those who live along State Route 156, according to a press release from the county. Specifically, those who live on the south side of …

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San Benito County issues evacuation warning

Information from San Benito County. Informacion en español del condado disponible a continuación. Flood watch is in place for the following location: Lovers Lane Frazier Lake San Felipe Area of San Benito County. High Wind advisory is also in place. …

Benito Link logo LOCAL NEWS
Sandbags available for upcoming storm

Information provided by San Benito County. Información en español del condado de San Benito disponible a continuación San Benito County Community members, the National Weather Service is forecasting rain and cold temperatures over the next week. Please continue to stay …

Benito Link logo LOCAL NEWS
Caltrans to repair Hwy 156 potholes

Information provided by Caltrans District 5 Construction crews will take advantage of a forecasted break in the rain on Tuesday March 7, to repair potholes along Hwy. 156 which have multiplied during recent rains. Travelers on Hwy. 156 will encounter …

SanBenitocom logo LOCAL NEWS
County asks residents for storm damage documentation for FEMA appeal

San Benito County is appealing federal authorities’ decision to deny emergency aid to local individuals who suffered storm damage from recent winter weather, and is asking affected residents and property owners to help by gathering and sending documentation of their …

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COG to apply for $5.5 Million grant for regional highway project

This article was written by BenitoLink intern Juliana Luna  At its Feb. 16 meeting, the Council of San Benito County Governments (COG) approved a grant letter requesting $5.5 million from the Rebuilding America's Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program …

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County to appeal FEMA denial

Information provided by County of San Benito Informacion de el condado de San Benito en español disponible a continuación San Benito County was officially denied Individual Assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This assistance would provide community members …

Benito Link logo LOCAL NEWS
BLM Central Coast seeks public input on off-highway vehicle trails

Information provided by the Bureau of Land Management Central Coast The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office wants to hear from the public on how to ensure off-highway vehicle trails are safe and well maintained on public lands …

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San Benito Sheriff’s Office to upgrade its body camera technology

In a 4-1 vote Feb. 28 the San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved Sheriff Eric Taylor’s request to move forward with an advanced body-worn camera program that would cost $2.5 million over 10 years. There was also a five-year …

Gilroy Dispatch logo LOCAL NEWS
Week begins with more snow in the hills, rain and thunder in the valley

The hills east of San Jose and mountains of San Benito County are likely to see more snow and more windy, dangerous conditions this afternoon, based on the latest winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service. Forecasters late Sunday, …

Image caption: View of the flooded San Lorenzo River Park Benchlands in Santa Cruz, California on New Year's Eve 2022.
Communicating During Disaster and Crisis

How to effectively communicate actionable information for preparation before extreme events, and to disseminate vital information during and after disasters.

Image caption: Explaining California is hard work! But at California Local, we were up for it throughout 2022.
Explaining California in 2022: Our 10 Best Explainers of the Year

2022 was a year that needed a lot of explaining. And California Local was there. Here are our 10 most important explanatory journalism stories from the year gone by, from immigration to cryptocurrency to wealth inequality and more.

Image caption: Elon Musk is now in control of the world's most influential social media outlet. What happens next?
What Elon Musk Really Wants From Twitter

Elon Musk says he plans to make Twitter a haven for 'free speech,' but a look at his list of investors suggests that the world's richest person may have other reasons for purchasing the highly influential social media platform.

Featured

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.
States have expansive powers to protect the health of the general public.
The State’s Broad Power to Protect Public Health, Explained
Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health.
California will soon be getting a new hotline number as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises.
988, the New Mental Health Emergency Number, Explained
Here's the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.
Mosquitos kill about 725,000 people every year, worldwide.
Taking a Bite Out of the Mosquito Population
How local government tries to control the world’s deadliest wild animal—the mosquito.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
How Not to Feel the Burn
These groups help residents preserve their property, health and life.
Supercell storms are just one of many weather phenomena in the era of climate change.
The New Vocabulary of the Climate Change Era
As climate change causes more extreme and unusual weather, we need a new set of terms to describe the various phenomena
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 easy—the hard part comes later.
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
Wildfires are larger, more frequent, and more ferocious—so be prepared.
Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners
The state tries persuading insurance companies to cover homes in fire zones.
With CERT training, volunteers can learn firefighting skills.
Emergency Teamwork
With CERT training, ordinary civilians can play critical roles in protecting their communities.
View of the flooded San Lorenzo River Park Benchlands in Santa Cruz, California on New Year's Eve 2022.
Communicating During Disaster and Crisis
Recent lessons learned over days of local disaster.
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