Sonoma County to adopt Stay Home Orders in effect
Due to rising COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations, the County of Sonoma announced today that it will preemptively adopt the California Department of Public Health’s Stay-Home Order. As of 12:01 am 12/12/20 Sonoma County Stay at Home Order is in place until further notice (estimated through 2/5/21).
The local order adopts the restrictions contained within the State’s recently announced Regional Stay-at-Home order.
For Lodging Properties:
Under the order, the following operations will be required to cease both indoor and outdoor services:
- Hair salons and barbershops
- Personal care services
- Movie theaters (except for drive-in theaters)
- Wineries, bars, breweries and distilleries (except for operations related to production, manufacturing, distribution and retail sales for off-site consumption)
- Family entertainment centers
- Museums, zoos, and aquariums
- Live audience sports
- Amusement parks
NO Travel Restrictions
Friday, November 13, 2020: California currently has no travel restrictions in place. But as cases in the state reached a million, health officials are urging people to travel as little as possible.
California, along with Oregon and Washington, issued travel advisories recommending against out-of-state travel and encouraging visitors to quarantine for 14 days. Yesterday, Los Angeles County issued a similar localized directive, and other states have taken similar actions in recent weeks
Travel Advisory for Non-Essential Travel
1. Persons arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. These persons should limit their interactions to their immediate household. This recommendation does not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel.
2. Californians are encouraged to stay home or in their region and avoid non-essential travel to other states or countries. Avoiding travel can reduce the risk of virus transmission and bringing the virus back to California.
NOW is the time to be fully prepared!
No matter the weather report currently, I strongly suggest you prepare as if we were going to have a PSPS, (Public Safety Power Shutoff) and as if we were going to have a dangerous wind-driven fire. Better to be prepared and safe now rather than very sorry later.
Seriously, get ready!
- If you have a generator make sure it is fueled up and functioning.
- Make sure your cars are fueled up.
- Park your car outside facing the street tonight if you cannot open your garage door without the automatic opener,
- Sign up for SoCo Alert, Nixle, and NOAA Weather Radios
- Sign up for PG&E Notifications
- Listen and pay attention to all alerts.
- Charge all electronics: phones, laptops, rechargeable batteries. We recommend you purchase a solar charger ahead of longer power outages.
- Prepare your GO BAG. – A bag or container you can quickly grab-and-go will give you needed peace of mind. Prepare one for each member of your home, including pets, is advised. Know what you will take with you should an evacuation be ordered. I know, it is unlikely for here, even with these conditions. Still. Do it. (Don’t forget COVID stuff…masks…sanitizer…)
- Make sure you have saved on your radio dials our local radio stations are and that you can listen to them even if the power is out.
When there is a PSPS PG&E you will find a “Community Resource Center ” (CRC) set up to help people do things like charging their phones if we lose power. And yes, COVID precautions fully in effect there. TSRA folks might not need that help, but Annapolis and Stewarts Point are expected to be without power.
The strongest wind gusts are expected over the highest peaks and ridges, but these winds are expected to mix down into the valleys and reach the coastline.
Winds at lower levels are likely expected from 20-30 mph, with occasional gusts up to 50 mph.
Winds at higher elevations will be 25-40 mph, with gusts from 60 to 70 mph. These strong winds led to the issuance of a High Wind Watch for the North Bay, East Bay, San Francisco Peninsula, Bay Shorelines, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Santa Clara Valley beginning at 4 PM Sunday afternoon lasting through Monday at 9 AM.
The North Bay Valleys, East Bay Valleys, San Francisco Peninsula, Bay Shoreline, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Santa Clara Valley will be added to the Red Flag Warning from 8 PM Sunday evening until Monday at 11 AM.
Dry conditions
Dry conditions make for easier fire starts and potential for the rapid spread of fire.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Please don’t create outdoor sparks or fires due to potentially strong winds and dry fuel
########
Sonoma and Mendocino Counties’ Current COVID status
Currently, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties’ COVID-19 status are listed as “widespread.” This means many non-essential indoor business operations are closed. For a list of those businesses see: Find the status of activities in your county
Immediate and Direct Emergency Information
- Sonoma County Sheriff’s messages (Nixle) – includes evacuation notice/road closures
- Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information
- Emergency Notifications And Alerts
- Sonoma County Evacuation area map
- Current Road Closures
- Hotline~ LNU Lightning Complex: 707-967-4207
- View real-time wind map
- Sonoma County Power Shutoffs- Map
- AirQuality for Sea Ranch
Be Prepared
While we anticipate your vacation will be trouble-free, we urge you to make sure you are prepared in case a disaster befalls the region.
Sonoma County has experienced a number of disasters over the past several years including floods, earthquakes, power shutoffs, pandemic, and wildfires. The County’s alert and warning systems have grown to notify residents and visitors of an emergency in their area early and accurately. Many alerts require individuals opt-in, below are links to sign-up and information on additional warning systems.
This information will help you be ready, stay vigilant, and BE prepared for action if required.
Sign Up for Alerts
The County of Sonoma and we strongly recommend you subscribe to the following alert and warning systems:
SoCoAlert –
Upon signing up for SoCoAlert, select to receive alerts through landline calls, cell phone text messages, or pre-recorded verbal messages and email. The system also works with telephone devices for the deaf.
Learn more about SoCoAlert »
Nixle –
Receive email and text messages from local fire and law enforcement agencies that include public safety messages as well as emergency information.
Text your zip code (The Sea Ranch: 95497) to 888777 to opt-in or sign up online to receive email, text or voice messages with alerts and advisories.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio –
This alert system is available for purchase at a relatively low cost. When properly programmed, the National Weather Service can remotely turn on these radios and send basic alerts, including for wildfire. The message may be accompanied by a warning tone, depending on the model of radio you purchase.
Sonoma County residents may tune their NOAA radio to frequency 162.475.
If you are deaf or have hearing loss these radios have add-on equipment such as strobe lights and bed shakers. An instructional video regarding how to set up this weather radio is provided below:
Sonoma County Information
For more specific and current information regarding current emergency situations for the County of Sonoma visit https://socoemergency.org/
County Resources
- For information on critical Alert and Warning resources, visit Stay Informed.
- Learn about making an emergency plan
- Read more about preparing a Go Bag
- For special information regarding PG&E power shutoffs, see Preparing for Power Shutoffs
Pocket Guide: Be Ready in an Emergency (download pdf)
List your contacts, check your Go Bag, find tips for local hazards, and more. Download and print yours today!
In case of the Need for Evacuation:
Other Printable PDFs to Download Post on your Wall or Door
- Evacuation Timeline (PDF)
- Do Immediately (PDF)
- If You Have One Hour (PDF)
- If You Have More Than One Hour (PDF)
Mendocino County Information
For more specific and current information regarding current emergency situations for the County of Mendocino visit: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/executive-office/office-of-emergency-services/emergency-notifications-and-alerts