LAKE COUNTY >> Marisa Chilafoe, Lake County Office of Emergency Services manager, officially closed the Lake County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at 5 p.m. Friday. The EOC was activated at 7 a.m. Thursday in response to the severe winter storm.
“I”d like to thank the staff at the EOC for their hard work and long hours, as well as the County staff that provided support to the EOC. Lake County was in good hands,” Matt Perry, Lake County administrative officer, said.
Reports on the situation in Lake County were given at a final briefing Friday. The Red Cross shelter located at the Lower Lake High School gymnasium was closed Friday afternoon.
It was reported that both health services and fire rescue services are operating at status quo.
Rick Coel, Lake County community development director, said that there are two building inspectors and one building official out in the field doing damage assessments.
Late Friday afternoon, the county provided mutual aid assistance to the city of Clearlake by providing staff to inspect a home that was damaged by the storm. Following the inspection, the house was “red tagged,” meaning it was unsafe to occupy. The Lake County Department of Social Services, in partnership with the Red Cross, is working with the residents of the home to find alternate accommodations.
Scott DeLeon, Lake County public works director, reported on road conditions. The two most serious areas of damage are on Soda Bay Road, east of Marina View Drive and Bartlett Springs Road.
According to the most current road conditions report issued by the Lake County Department of Public Works as of press time, Soda Bay Road near Marina View Drive (Horseshoe Bend Area) had a undermining of the edge of the roadway. The area has been stabilized but the traveling public is advised to reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area.
DeLeon stated that Lake County engineers documented 16 damaged sites in the first 14 miles of Bartlett Springs Road.
Siegler Canyon Road is now open to thru traffic. High Valley Road is restricted to single-lane traffic over one stretch due to a washout of the roadway. Hill Road is closed to all traffic from just north of Sutter Lakeside Hospital to Lakeshore Boulevard due to public safety concerns. Detours and signs are in place alerting the travelling public of the need to use alternative routes. Sutter Lakeside Hospital is still accessible on Hill Road East and can be accessed by taking the Park Way exit on Highway 29 or taking Park Way from Lakeshore Boulevard. Ackley Road remains closed to all traffic from Matthews Road to Highway 29. Reiff Road is closed to through traffic until further notice due to winter road conditions. Residents can still access their properties. Scotts Valley Road from Highway 20 to the packing sheds is closed due to flooding.
Chilafoe was pleased with the outcome of the EOC activation.
“On behalf of Lake OES, I would like to thank our EOC staff and response partners for their hard work and creative solutions in response to the storm. The collaboration of county employees, local agency personnel, nonprofit organizations, the city of Clearlake, the city of Lakeport and the state of California was impressive and contributed to a positive conclusion to a dangerous situation.”
