| Hazard MitigationOffice of Emergency Services 2022 |
Description |
Through identifying risks and vulnerabilities common to Nevada County, developing long-term strategies and collaboratively seeking funds to address these threats, OES works to reduce all hazards in Nevada County, with a specific focus on wildfire.
County of Nevada OES has identified grant attainment, affordable residential green waste disposal, and the Defensible Space Program as areas of concentration for mitigation in 2022.
Progress Update | |
Grants:
In Q2 OES worked with the Fire Safe Council to develop and execute contracts for the two FEMA Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Defensible Space Grants. These contracts encompass Phase 1 of these grants which combined will proved hazardous vegetation treatment on 123 properties and will conduct pre-inspections on an additional 765 homes. This Phase 1 of these grants will total $1.3 million dollars.
The DSI team has been written into the FEMA AFN Defensible Space Grants, which require DSI inspectors to inspect homes before and after defensible space treatment. In Q2 the OES team hired two temporary DSI’s to focus on this grant work.
In Q2 OES worked with CAL FIRE and the Fire Safe Council to close out Phase 1 of the Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone Project.
In Q2 OES staff met with Assemblywoman Dahle and advocated for a more expeditious timeline and faster funding of federal wildfire mitigation projects.
In Q2 the OES team began seeking local state agency funding to provide match solutions for federal funds that have been applied for, including $750K FY23 earmark funds focused on maintenance of Phase 1 of the Ponderosa Project and FEMA funds for the South Yuba Rim Project.
Green Waste:
During this reporting period the final western county green waste free community drop off event in collaboration with the Nevada County Firesafe Council, CAL FIRE and Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District was held totaling 1,514.29 tons of green waste. Three eastern county green waste free community drop off events in collaboration with the Town of Truckee, Truckee Fire Protection District, CAL FIRE, and the Nevada County Firesafe Council were held filling thirty, 30-yard green waste dumpsters of material. Waste Management in collaboration with Nevada County held two free green waste customer drop off events at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station totaling over 92 tons of green waste.
Defensible Space:
In Q2 the Nevada County Defensible Space Program opened 84 cases, with 11 coming into compliance on the first visit, 41 coming into compliance after the notice to abate was sent, 19 coming into compliance after a warning letter was sent, 2 after the first citation and 2 after the second citation and 5 after the third citation. 78 cases were complaint-based and 6 were pro-active cases. In Q2 the DSI program saw a 47% compliance rate and a 49% education rate*.
The DSI Program filled the new full time DSI inspector position that was created after combining two temp positions. This position will provide more flexibility and a year-round employee to support the ongoing caseload.
*Educational Rate: The percent of complaint-based and pro-active cases with hazardous vegetation violations that achieve compliance with the Nevada County Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance prior to being issued an administrative citation. The goal is 80%.
Next Steps | |
In Q3 the DSI team will continue to workshop the fuel on open lands and 50/50 cost share concerns brought forward by residents with the intent of bringing recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors in September 2022.
In Q3 OES will begin work with the Fire Safe Council inspecting prequalified homes ahead of abatement.
In Q3 OES will continue to implement the FEMA AFN Defensible Space Grant home treatment and pre-inspection schedule.
In Q3 the OES team will complete contracting with Fire Safe Council for the CAL FIRE funded South County Shaded Fuel Break Project. The County will begin work on the CAL FIRE funded Evacuation Study. The County will also contract with USFS for the funds associated with the FY22 $750K earmark that was approved in June for Phase 2 of the Ponderosa Project.
| DSI Inspection Program Case Status |
Measures |
Objectives |