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Posts Tagged: wildfire
Emergency resources
Dear UC ANR Community,
We have all experienced so many challenges this year, and now we face the challenges wrought by more than 300 wildfires around the state. Some of you have had to evacuate to safety, wondering if your homes will be standing when you return. Others are sheltering family and friends who have had to evacuate. Power outages and poor air quality are adding to the stresses we face in the midst of a global pandemic.
We would like to remind you of resources that are available to help the UC ANR community weather this time of crisis.
- Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible and understanding with staff who have been impacted by the fires or power outages. If you cannot work due to fire impacts, contact your supervisor. Supervisors should contact Jodi Rosenbaum (jrosenbaum@ucanr.edu) about paid leave options.
- For those in need of further assistance, the Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers confidential and cost-free assessment, intervention, consultation and referral services to you and your families.
- Emergency resources from UC's benefit plans can be found at: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/emergency-resources.html
- Use the following safety notes and UC ANR fire website links to help with emergency preparedness and safety:
167 Be Informed about Emergencies
168 Make a Plan for Emergencies
169 Build a Kit of Emergency Supplies
https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Prepare/
https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Evacuation/
https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Current/
https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/AirQuality/
- Monitor air quality in your area using https://www.airnow.gov. Your local Air Quality Management District may also be a good source of detailed information. When checking the Air Quality Index, be sure to look specifically for the rating/number associated with AQI for5. Particulate Matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) is the pollutant of concern that is most typically associated with wildfire smoke. Anything above an AQI of 151 for PM2.5 is considered unhealthy.
- Use social media to stay up to date on the situation in your area: follow your County's emergency services, the Sheriff's office, CalFire, etc. to stay informed.
I am grateful to the firefighters who are working so hard to protect our state and to all of you for your resiliency and commitment to our mission. Thanks for all you do and stay safe out there!
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
Program Team meetings, fire summit and programmatic orientation dates set
Vision 20/20: A fire-resilient California: April 16-17, and ANR-only follow-up meeting, April 18, Redding CA
The fire summit will bring together community leaders, policymakers, and movers and shakers—people like you!—from a wide range of disciplines on April 16-17. Vision 20/20: A Fire-resilient California will expand our understanding of California's fire problem and provide an opportunity to build connectivity, interaction, and integration across disciplines and better understand the complexity of and find solutions to California's wildfire challenge.
On April 18, we'll have an internal ANR meeting where we can share our own work in fire and strategize how together we can better respond to California's fire challenges at local and regional levels. We hope ANR academics and staff from a wide range of disciplines will attend. Travel funds will be available for ANR-affiliated academics and programmatic staff.
Open to ANR academics and programmatic staff – registration now open.
UC ANR Programmatic Orientation: April 23-25, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA
Plan to join ANR leadership for the Programmatic Orientation to discuss the mission of UC ANR and our varied roles in California and the University, as well as see examples of successful research and outreach programs. Take this opportunity to engage in discussions with colleagues about the resources and opportunities available through ANR as a division.
All early career UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists, academic coordinators and administrators are invited to attend – registration now open.
Upcoming Program Team meetings
Water Resources PT – March 5-7 – Registration
Positive Youth Development Meeting – March 18-20 – Registration
Pomology (PECC) PT – March 27-28 – Registration opening soon
Dairy Production and Food Safety PT – April 9-10 – Registration opening soon
Research to Policy PT – April 10-11 – Registration opening soon
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Legal resources to help UC employees recover from fire
The UC Emergency Support page has now been enhanced with a legal resources section.
Regardless of whether you have legal insurance through UC, you can visit ARAGlegal.com/fires for resources to help you with the legal and financial issues caused by a fire. The site includes how to protect your rights as a homeowner or renter, who to contact for assistance, what to do if you're the victim of a scam and more.
If you're a current ARAG legal insurance member, please call ARAG Customer Care at 800-828-1395 or send an email to service@ARAGlegal.com for help in dealing with this disaster.
Other emergency support resources are also available from UCnet: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2018/11/emergency-support-from-ucs-benefit-plans.html.
John Fox
Executive director, Human Resources
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Guidance for managing poor air quality conditions
As wildfires continue to burn in the north and south portions of the state, many of us are also affected by poor air quality. For the past several days, throughout much of Northern California, air quality measurements have ranged from “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Very Unhealthy” as measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI).
Based on public health and air quality management information, we have developed the following recommendations:
- Monitor your local air quality predictions and real-time data. Most county or regional Air Quality Management Districts post this information on their website. You can find your local Air Quality Management District here: https://www.arb.ca.gov/capcoa/dismap.htm.
- As much as possible, avoid strenuous work or other activities outside when the AQI is in the Unhealthy range or above. Most buildings have air filtration and the effects of the poor outdoor air quality are reduced inside.
- Since individual employees can have different sensitivity to poor air quality, supervisors should allow employees to take a sick day, or modify their work activities, if needed to reduce exposure.
- If you cannot postpone outdoor work, consider using a respirator that will filter the particulate pollution that is in the air, such as an N95. However, be aware that when a particulate respirator is working effectively, it can slightly restrict air flow and make breathing more difficult. People with chronic respiratory, cardiac or other medical conditions that make normal breathing difficult should check with their doctor before using an N95 or any respirator.
- If you are using a respirator, read the instructions on proper use, so you know what it will protect against, and how to wear it properly. The respirator must fit tight in order to be effective. For more information about how to properly wear a respirator, see http://www.sparetheair.com/assets/FaceMasks-FiltersInfo.pdf
- Normally, the use of a respirator at work is to prevent exposure to workplace breathing hazards and a medical evaluation and a fit test are required. However, due to these extreme environmental conditions, voluntary use of a respirator may be appropriate, as long as the employee is provided the following information about respirator use:
http://safety.ucanr.edu/Programs/Respiratory_Protection_Program/Voluntary_Use_Provisions/ - For more details about use of respirators, see NIOSH: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/respirators/
- If your office needs to close due to fire-related conditions, the County Director, REC Director, or other leader should contact Brian Oatman (baoatman@ucanr.edu or 530-304-2054) to inform ANR administration of the closure.
The UC ANR Fire in California website has additional tips and information:https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Current/Health/Air_Quality/
You can also consult the UCANR Environmental Health & Safety website at: http://safety.ucanr.edu.
Brian Oatman
Director, Risk & Safety Services
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Fire update for July 30
There are several large fires threatening communities all over the state and causing concern. I want you to know we've been in touch with our colleagues in the fire zones and everyone is safe. Here's an update from the affected areas.
In Lake County, the UCCE office is closed and most of the staff evacuated from their homes due to the River and Ranch fires. Nearby highway entrances are closed: Hwy 175 from Hopland and Hwy 20 from Ukiah and Hwy 29 from south of Lakeport to Hwy 20 to the north.
Hopland REC was hit hard by the River Fire. The good news is the evacuation order was lifted at noon today and all Hopland Research and Extension Center employees are safe and the headquarter buildings are undamaged. The animals were moved on Friday and all livestock are safe and accounted for, except a guard dog is missing. Roughly 2500 acres of the upper pastures burned and the domestic water line from the spring is down. On Friday, Cal Fire set up Incident Command Post at Hopland REC with 6+ engines, three bulldozers and a water tanker. Kudos to John Bailey, superintendent and interim director, and staff for their efforts, which no doubt limited the damage.
UCCE Shasta office is open today. Many staff members evacuated due to the massive Carr Fire, and CD Larry Forero is still evacuated, but the rest of the staff is back. Last week 4-H members helped relocate animals to safety. At least one 4-H family – and there may be more – lost their home to the Carr Fire so the local UCCE staff is meeting to see how they can help.
UCCE Mendocino office is open. All employees are safe and the office suffered no damage from the Ranch Fire.
UCCE Riverside office is open. A Master Gardener volunteer lost her home in Idyllwild to the Cranston Fire. UCCE Master Gardener coordinator Rosa Olaiz and the rest of the UCCE Riverside County staff are safe and are making plans to assist the volunteer.
UCCE San Bernardino office is open and all staff members are safe from the Cranston Fire.
We are continuing to monitor the impacts of the fires.
Because emergencies can arise without warning, UC ANR Environmental Health and Safety has this Safety Note to help make plans http://safety.ucanr.edu/files/152253.pdf.
Sincerely,
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
