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Residents, 211 urge preparedness, backup power for medical devices at Nevada County meeting
Summary
Public commenters urged defensible-space work, home hardening and planning for backup power for medical devices; 211 staff described its role in relaying emergency information.
Multiple residents and county service providers told the Nevada County Board during public comment that household preparedness — including backup power for medical devices — should be a priority as the county faces wildfire and public-safety power shutoff risks.
A preparedness speaker described the "ready" phase of emergency planning and urged residents to focus on defensible space and home hardening. "Defensible space is really all about creating a buffer zone between your house and flammable vegetation. We really focus on defensible space around the home, that first 100 feet," the speaker said, and added that hardening the home includes measures such as "putting the fine grain mesh around the vents of your home so that embers won't get into under your house or into the eaves" and using noncombustible materials on decks.
Several speakers emphasized planning for medical equipment that requires electricity. One resident who said they live in Grass Valley told supervisors, "All of us have sleep apnea, so we all have CPAP machines that require power in order to run." That resident said their household uses a generator and had obtained a "pretty substantial battery from Fried" and recommended the same to others with medical power needs.
Ulysses Palencia, who said he works in the 211 call center and is a Grass Valley resident, described 211's role during emergencies: "In Nevada County, 211 is available 24/7." Palencia said 211 provides information ranging from directions to resource centers to updates on power and evacuation status and that the call center gets its emergency information directly from the county's Office of Emergency Services.
Another resident recounted evacuating during the Nov. 8 Paradise fire, saying there was little time to collect belongings and that a normally 10-minute drive to Chico took nearly four hours as people fled. The resident described seeing a machine shop with gas and propane tanks ignite and explode during the evacuation, underscoring the speed and danger of a wildfire's advance.
Commenters also urged that households prepare a "go bag" containing food, water, medication, clothing and supplies to sustain people and pets for about 72 hours if evacuation is necessary.
No formal county actions or votes resulted from the public comment remarks recorded in the transcript.
