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County Of Sonoma › Administrative Support & Fiscal Services › County Administrator's Office › Weekly roundup for July 5, 2024
County Administrator's Office

Weekly roundup for July 5, 2024

Published: July 05, 2024

Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following:

  1. Protect yourself from the heat
  2. Prepare for wildfire season by listening to SoCo Ready podcast series
  3. Get the latest news on efforts to address climate change in Sonoma County
  4. Other Sonoma County news of note

Protect yourself from the heat

The National Weather Service warns it will remain dangerously hot in Sonoma County through Wednesday, where daytime temperatures are expected to hit the upper 90s and low 100s in inland areas.

Such conditions can cause heat stroke and worsen chronic medical conditions, leading to severe complications and even death. Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Tanya Phares urges residents to take simple steps to stay cool and help prevent heat-related illnesses.

  • Never leave anyone, including children or pets, in a parked car, even briefly. Temperatures in the car can become dangerous within a few minutes.
  • Use air-conditioning to cool down or go to an air-conditioned building, such as a mall or movie theater. 
  • Drink plenty of fluids. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink more fluids. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks. If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
  • Beat the heat with cool showers and baths.
  • Stay out of the sun as much as possible.
  • When possible, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day (between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.) and take regular breaks from physical activity.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing to help keep cool.
  • Wear sunscreen and a ventilated hat (e.g., straw or mesh) when in the sun, even if it is cloudy.
  • Be aware that some medicines affect the body's ability to sweat and stay cool, including antihistamines, antidepressants, over-the-counter sleeping pills, anti-diarrhea pills, beta blockers and psychiatric drugs. Do NOT stop taking medication unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
  • Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly or those in poor health, to see if they need assistance.
  • Don’t walk your dogs in the heat. Pavement temperatures can be 40 to 60 degrees hotter than air temperatures. Always check the pavement to see if it is cool enough for them to walk on.

Prepare for wildfire season by listening to SoCo Ready podcast series

If you missed our four-part podcast series on how to prepare for wildfire season, don’t fret. It’s not too late. All episodes of the SoCo Ready series are now available. They include:

Part 1: Outlook for fire season – Jeff DuVall, director of the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, provides a forecast of the 2024 wildfire season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7y-oUjCBqw

Part 2: Preparing our wildland areas – Kim Batchelder, the County’s vegetation management coordinator, discusses programs that are reducing the risk of fire by removing combustible material from our landscapes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AgiohYtE4M

Part 3: Creating a zone of protection around your home – Caerleon Safford, program manager for Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division, offers tips on what you can do to lower the odds that your home will burn in the next wildfire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYJhsyS5-zg

Part 4: Ready, Set, Go – Nancy Brown, the County’s emergency preparedness coordinator, talks about what you need to do to be ready to evacuate when the time comes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsqxFYBP0r4

Subscribe to SoCo Chat podcasts on the following platforms:

Get the latest news on efforts to address climate change in Sonoma County

Over the last two decades, Sonoma County has experienced rising temperatures, severe droughts, devastating fires and repeated floods. Each of these events is a reminder of the immediate impact of climate change. It is the reason why the County has prioritized efforts to prevent and mitigate climate change.

Stay up to date on the County’s efforts to address climate change by subscribing to the quarterly newsletter produced by the County’s Climate Action & Resiliency Division. The newsletter, available in English and Spanish, features a list of upcoming events where you can learn more about ways to make your home or business more climate resilient. You will also find a recap of significant accomplishments over the last three months, and a look ahead at upcoming initiatives.

Subscribe to the Climate Action & Resiliency Division newsletter and catch up on past issues of the newsletter here: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/climate-action-and-resiliency/newsletters

View the County’s Strategic Plan to address climate change here: https://socostrategicplan.org/climate-action-and-resiliency/

Other Sonoma County news of note

Sonoma County achieves record-high net assessment roll of more than $120 billion
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/sonoma-county-achieves-record-high-net-assessment-roll-of-more-than-120-billion

Sonoma County Health Officer issues Heat Advisory
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/sonoma-county-health-officer-issues-heat-advisory

Cooling centers to open during high heat event this week
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/cooling-centers-to-open-during-high-heat-event-this-week

Sonoma County opens cooling centers for high heat warning this week
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/sonoma-county-opens-cooling-centers-for-high-heat-warning-this-week

Sonoma County Health Officer extends Heat Advisory
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/sonoma-county-health-officer-extends-heat-advisory

View a list of current and upcoming job opportunities with the County of Sonoma
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/job-opportunities

Want to read more about what we’re up to at the County of Sonoma?

Sign up for the SoCo Correspondent monthly newsletter here:
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Newsroom/SoCo-Correspondent/