Humboldt supervisors receive update on 2022 Rio Dell earthquake recovery; staff to amend Habitat MOU to release remaining funds

Humboldt County officials updated the Board of Supervisors on April 8 about long‑term recovery from the Dec. 20, 2022, magnitude‑6.4 earthquake that damaged roughly 350 structures in the county and left about 90 unsafe to occupy in Rio Dell.

The County Administrative Office, joined by Habitat for Humanity Yuba‑Sutter and local disaster case management partners, reported how the county’s $1 million allocation from the federal Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) was distributed and how outstanding repairs would be completed. County staff said $250,000 of that $1 million was paid to the McLean Foundation to administer unmet‑needs grants, $375,000 was spent on an emergency shelter voucher program that served 95 households from January through April 2023, and $500,000 was allocated to Habitat for Humanity to support longer‑term repair work.

County public information specialist Katia Gallardo said Habitat received an initial $250,000 payment after submitting a business plan in 2023 and has requested the remaining $250,000 to finish repairs on four remaining red and yellow‑tagged homes in Rio Dell. Gallardo said county staff are preparing an amendment to Habitat’s memorandum of understanding that would permit payment while preserving reporting and a true‑up process to ensure accountability.

Camille Benner, appearing by video as Habitat’s administrative officer, and Carrie Venegas, executive director of Changing Tides Family Services — which provided disaster case management — described completed projects and remaining work. Officials said completed repairs include brace‑and‑bolt and foundation work, water‑heater replacements and other plumbing and structural fixes; they cautioned that some individual jobs exceeded the program’s $60,000 per‑unit threshold and required combining multiple funding streams. The presenters said the combined total of repairs administered through unmet‑needs funds, Habitat work and other sources is about $1.9 million to date, and that roughly 20 building permits tied to earthquake repairs remained active.

County staff told supervisors the county had expected 75% reimbursement for the motel voucher program but later received 100% from Cal OES in December 2023; one outstanding reimbursement item remains under review by county emergency services. Staff said there is no additional county appropriation for the program beyond the $1 million already allocated; the requested $250,000 for Habitat is part of that original allocation and would be released only after the MOU amendment is finalized.

Supervisor Michelle Bushnell moved to receive and file the update. The board approved the recommendation by a 3‑0 vote.

Benner and Venegas told supervisors they would continue coordinating with local contractors, USDA and CDBG program staff where those federal funds can be applied. Rio Dell’s city manager also spoke, urging state‑level changes to create a formal individual‑assistance program in California so rural communities have more options after disasters.

The report did not authorize immediate additional county spending beyond the allocation already recorded; staff said they would return with the amended MOU and formal documentation before disbursing the remaining Habitat funds.