Weekly Roundup for July 15, 2022
Published: July 15, 2022
Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following:
- Latest news from County of Sonoma
- Fire season, drought emergency tips and resources
- Weekly update on COVID-19 in Sonoma County
Latest News from County of Sonoma
Sonoma County celebrates the grand opening of Mitote Food Park in Roseland
Supervisors approve using $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for homelessness programs
County to acquire former Bank of America building in downtown Guerneville
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/county-to-acquire-former-bank-of-america-building-in-downtown-guerneville
Sonoma County proposes rule changes for well permits to protect health of local waterways
Want to read more about what we're up to at the County of Sonoma?
Sign up for the SoCo Correspondent monthly newsletter here:
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Newsroom/SoCo-Correspondent/
Fire Season, Drought Emergency Tips & Resources
On April 27, 2021 the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due to drought conditions.
Since then, a third consecutive year of below-average rainfall in the Russian River watershed has left the region’s two primary water storage reservoirs, Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, near historic lows.
The first five months of 2022 have been the second driest in Sonoma County in 128 years, with rainfall more than 20 inches below normal.
Drought is Here. Save Water. One easy way to save water is to turn the faucet off when washing hands or brushing teeth. Also, when waiting for the water to run hot, grab a bucket and collect the water to use for your indoor or outdoor plants.
Sonoma Water and the County of Sonoma are hosting monthly updates to provide the latest information on drought conditions, answer questions and explore key topics. Drought town halls occur the first Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. through November.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sonomawater.org/drought
Also, with fire season underway, it is strongly recommended that residents subscribe to SoCoAlert and Nixle warning systems to receive alerts through landline calls, telephone devices for the deaf, cell phone text messages or verbal messages and email.
Sign up here: https://socoemergency.org/get-ready/sign-up/
- Plus, make sure you know your official evacuation zone:
https://socoemergency.org/get-ready/evacuation-map/ - Learn how to prevent equipment sparked fires due to lawn mowing, trailer chains, or driving on dry grass or brush, or with low tire pressure:
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/equipment-use/ - Defensible space is an essential buffer between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. Learn more:
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-ready/defensible-space/
Sonoma County Library and the County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Management is partnering to offer workshops to help prepare community members in case of emergency.
“Sonoma Ready!” emergency preparedness workshops are taking place on July 20, 23, 26 and 27 at library branches throughout the county.
Learn more and register here:
https://sonomalibrary.org/emergency-preparedness
Weekly COVID-19 Update for Sonoma County
COVID-19 infection and hospital numbers are surging statewide as the highly contagious BA.5 subvariant of omicron spreads in Sonoma County and across the country.
There are 57 Sonoma County residents hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday. Seven of those COVID patients are in the ICU. There are 500 Sonoma County residents who have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Abundant evidence makes clear that being vaccinated and getting boosted protects against severe disease. COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months to 4 years of age are now available through primary care providers and health centers.
Schedule of vaccination and booster appointment here:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information/clinics/
Schedule a testing appointment here:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/
All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should self-isolate and test as soon as possible.
Knowing one is infected early during self-isolation enables earlier access to treatment options, particularly for those who may be at risk for severe illness.
County health officials continue to strongly encourage facial coverings in indoor settings, and particularly during summer gatherings and events.