LAKEPORT
Vehicle crashes into Lakeport Fire Station 52
At approximately 9:15 P.M. on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, a vehicle traveling at high speed crashed into Lakeport Fire Station 52, located at 3600 Hill Rd E in Lakeport. Due to the high rate of speed, the vehicle was unable to properly negotiate the Hill Road exit off Highway 29, crossed Park Way, over a curb, through a grassy area, through a CalTrans highway fence, across Hill Rd, coming to rest after impacting the fire station. The station, which is currently unstaffed due to budget constraints, sustained significant damage to its steel framework, as well as the bay doors. The California Highway Patrol was on scene immediately and the Lakeport Fire Protection District firefighters and paramedics arrived within minutes to render medical aid to the driver. The driver was uninjured.
The District does not yet have a formal estimate of the cost to repair the station, but conservative estimates place the damage as likely over $100,000.
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
Cal OES awards over $15 million in state funding through prepare California ‘Match’ Program
As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to increase community resilience in areas of the state more prone to natural disasters, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) today announced the first round of awardees for the Prepare California ‘Match’ Program amounting to over $15 million in state funding.
For this first round of grants, Cal OES awarded over $15 million in state funding to 15 applicants through the ‘Match’ portion of the Prepare California Program, which allocates a total of $85 million in state funding for eligible communities and projects applying for federal Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants.
“This innovative, proactive funding opportunity opens the door for the most vulnerable, at-risk communities to receive federal dollars aimed at improving local infrastructure,” said Ryan Buras, Deputy Director of Cal OES Recovery Operations.
Prepare California ‘Match’ unlocks state funding to cover the required local match (non-federal cost share) portion of these grants that are intended to support communities considered socially vulnerable with a high hazard risk. Under the ‘Match’ program, the federal government covers 90 percent of the project cost, with the state providing the remaining 10 percent of the funding.
The first round of Prepare California ‘Match’ funding awardees ranges from cities and counties to Tribal Governments situated all over the state.
The state identified these disaster-vulnerable communities by prioritizing California census tracts according to their estimated hazard exposures and social vulnerability. Hazard exposure is based on the State Hazard Mitigation Plan which includes an analysis of several datasets related to wildfire, flood, earthquake, drought, and heat wave frequencies. Social vulnerability is based on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index.
Cal OES will announce additional awardees for the Prepare California Match Program in the coming months. Additionally, Cal OES is currently offering Match funds for eligible communities applying for FEMA’s 2022 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grants.
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
Newsom statement on announcement by Speaker Pelosi
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the below statement Thursday following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that she will step down from House Democratic leadership:
“Nancy Pelosi is the model of dedicated public service.
“Speaker Pelosi has never wavered in the fight to better our nation, even in the face of opposition or hate. Time and again, she has delivered for California and for the nation, often in the face of unspeakable odds. Her career in Congress, and as Speaker, has been a masterclass in powerful, empathetic leadership, guided by her strong moral compass and unmatched political skill.
“During her three decades of service in the House, Speaker Pelosi has shaped California and the nation for the better – and generations to come will benefit from her work.”
—Submitted
