Growing up in the historic mining town of Washington, Fire Chief Mike Stewart learned from an early age to always be prepared for an emergency.
“Mom always had two weeks worth of food in the pantry in case we couldn’t get out. I still keep powdered milk on the shelf, just in case,” he said.
He and his neighbors on Maybert Road know firsthand that being prepared for a natural disaster is a way of life. Without any cell phone coverage in the river canyon, he and his neighbors use radio for communications and make a point to look out for each other.
This year’s forecasts for El Niño storms bring a heightened sense of alert with the elevated threat of flooding, erosion and “blown out” roads. Now is the time for residents throughout Nevada County to take preparedness into their own hands and ensure that they have a plan for inclement weather. Retired from his first responder career of more than three decades with Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department and CAL FIRE, Stewart serves as the Fire Chief for the communities of Washington and North San Juan.
Stewart and other county officials are urging residents to be prepared for what could be a stormy winter by staying informed, keeping important contacts handy, preparing properties and vehicles and getting ready for power outages, flooding and dangerous driving conditions.
Living remotely on the forested banks of the South Yuba isn’t for everyone, but Stewart enjoys the rural lifestyle where bear sightings are a regular occurrence and the closest neighbor is a mile away. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact population size of this rugged community, but Stewart estimates the number to be around 125 people.
Besides extra food, Stewart stores extra fuel in the winter for his generator, because the main powerline running from Dobbins is vulnerable during a storm. He implores those with portable generators to have adequate fuel storage in a safe storage place with a fuel stabilizer in it to preserve it. Residents can learn more about generator safety at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/GeneratorSafety.
Rising water and erosion can be an issue and Stewart recalls how on Jan. 1, 1997 his family was forced to move to higher ground when a deck was swept away and “the river was undermining the foundation.”
Maybert Road provides critical access to multiple private residences and has washed out during major storms, most recently in 2017. Running alongside the South Yuba River, the road was rebuilt a little at a time by County road crews.
“I’d use the excavator to build a section, drive forward, then build the next section. We got the road back open, but the river came up again and damaged our repairs,” said Tyler Deschaine, road supervisor for Nevada County Public Works, who helped rebuild the road in 2017.
Freezing temperatures combined with the canyon’s microclimate means that snow has accumulated up to six feet in the past. For people living in structures that are not built to current building code for snow loading, a big winter storm with heavy snowpack and power outages could spell disaster.
“There’s an allure to living here and sometimes people forget the distance to medical care. We have elderly folks who need to get out for dialysis or other medical issues. We have had to send emergency crews to shovel driveways for residents who could not,” he said.
During a snowstorm, getting into and out of town can become a problem. Washington Road is a heavily tree-lined, steep and winding, two-lane road that climbs to 4,200 feet before intersecting with Highway 20. Washington Road is county-maintained and a primary snowplow route, so the County prioritizes plowing it during winter storms. That also means Public Works will address downed trees, rockslides or other major issues on the road.
However, over 2,000 miles are privately maintained roads in Nevada County. Many residents, like Stewart, carry a chainsaw and other safety equipment in their vehicles in case of emergency.
“We get a lot of trees down during storms,” said Stewart.
A historic El Niño on the way?
In June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Weather Service issued an El Niño Advisory. Based on conditions in the Pacific Ocean, models indicate that El Niño could continue to strengthen this fall and into the winter months of 2027. El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter or any particular storm, but it heightens the risk of strong storms in California.
NOAA’s National Weather Service and Climate Prediction Center has found that the El Niño event is strengthening with a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong event during the fall and winter. There is a 69 percent chance that the event will reach historic strength from October to December 2026, exceeding all prior El Niño events since 1950.
A community gets ready
As the October days grow shorter and cooler and wildfire season winds down, local first responders, road and sanitation crews are shifting gears to what could be a wild winter storm season ahead.
County road crews prepare for winter year-round by conducting paved road maintenance, grading roads, working drainage, clearing roadside vegetation and ensuring road striping and signs are serviced. In recent weeks, road crews have been out in force clearing dirt, pine needles and leaves from culverts and drainage ditches along roadways throughout Nevada County preparing for the wet season ahead.
Nevada County maintains 561 miles of road and during major storm events, 25 full-time and five seasonal temporary employees work 12-hour shifts to ensure drainage ditches are flowing, landslides and washouts are remediated, downed trees and other hazards are cleared from the roadways, and priority routes are snowplowed.
“When trees come down our first priority is getting the road open. A call-out for one tree down across the road can turn into multiple trees that need to be cleared along the way,” said Deschaine.
Crews from Nevada County Sanitation have been servicing generators and back up pumps at their wastewater treatment facilities at Lake of the Pines and Lake Wildwood and ordering extra supplies to ensure unincorporated areas of the County are prepared for every major wet weather and snow scenario.
“There’s a lot we have to be prepared for. If there are outages or issues we have back up pumps ready to go,” said Chad McBride, Wastewater Operations Treatment Supervisor for Nevada County Sanitation. He remembers when the County experienced record-breaking storms during the winter of 2016-2017.
“I think we learned a lot from that one,” he said.
When rainwater is deluging the system, residents can do their part by only using what they need and turning off the tap instead of letting the water flow.
Public Works uses the Department Operations Center (DOC) to coordinate a unified incident response and streamline communication across agencies. The DOC serves as a central hub for coordinating Public Works crews and, when needed, contractors during a significant storm or other emergency. If the DOC sees an increase in reports from private roads or county residents, it coordinates with the Office of Emergency Services, which may activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support unmet needs.
Residents can report flooding, mudslides or downed trees on County-maintained roadways to Nevada County Public Works at public.works@nevadacountyca.gov or 530-265-1411 and report downed power lines by calling 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
It’s a good idea to check windshield wipers and tires before the rains begin and to carry a winter preparedness bag in vehicles equipped with a flashlight, water, gloves, jacket and snacks.
El Niño doesn’t mean that every storm is severe but it can translate into a more active winter season. Local agencies are working to prepare for a wide range of conditions before disaster strikes. Residents are encouraged to do the same.
“We’re taking the El Niño season seriously. We’re always monitoring the weather and conditions,” said Chief Jason Robitaille, Nevada County Consolidated (NCC) Fire District.
A new $377,000 grant awarded by Congressman Kevin Kiley’s office will purchase a new search and rescue vehicle for NCC, allowing first responders to access victims in remote areas more efficiently.
The multi-agency Task Force provides another layer of coordination across agencies, including fire agencies, utilities and Public Works, to address broader community needs during a significant storm.
“Nevada County OES maintains open lines of communication between County departments, external agencies and service providers to ensure that needs can be addressed expediently. For example, last winter OES worked with CAL FIRE to deploy the Washington Ridge Crew along Pasquale Road to address downed debris after residents voiced concerns,” said Alex Keeble-Toll, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) director.
This year, the multi-agency task force model is poised to be “mission ready” to deploy to different affected areas across the county when significant weather strikes. The Task Force is separate from the Public Works DOC; however, the Task Force can be embedded within the DOC for strategic resource deployment where priority needs exist.
Events will bring resources together to work in tandem and expedite what needs to be done – CAL FIRE, NCC Fire District and Nevada County OES will focus on emergency resources filling gaps where there are unmet needs, PG&E linemen will make sure fallen power lines are de-energized and Nevada County Public Works will make sure roads are clear.
“CAL FIRE remains staffed at peak levels and stands ready to assist our local government and OES partners with any storm related issues that come with this upcoming change in seasonal weather” said NEU Assistant Chief Kevin McKeown, Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
In addition, all agencies can request aid from CAL OES to “upstaff” and bring in additional engines and firefighters when a winter storm warning or watch is issued with the potential to cause significant damage.
Nevada County OES is also preparing for winter storms by lining up contractors to remove fallen trees and debris, checking sand supplies at free community sand sites ahead of Nov. 1, and identifying areas at greater risk of flooding during winter storms.
“Preparing for winter storms starts well before the first storm arrives. We’re working with our County departments, state agencies and community partners to identify potential needs, coordinate resources and prepare our Emergency Operations Center team to respond,” said Keeble-Toll.
“No single agency can do this work alone. Our ability to respond effectively depends on the coordination and partnerships we build throughout the year,” she said.
Now is the perfect time for Nevada County residents to get ready before winter storms arrive by taking these easy steps to make sure homes and vehicles are ready.
Stay informed.
- Pay attention to weather forecasts and make sure you’re registered for Nevada County Alerts at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/EmergencyAlerts.
- Alerts may be sent out for significant storm conditions if relevant.
- Conditions can change quickly during major storms, so follow instructions from local emergency officials.
Keep important contacts handy.
- Have contact information available for your emergency tree service, propane provider, snowplow service, telecommunications provider, firewood supplier and insurance company before a storm.
- Check in with your neighbors or Firewise Community to pre-identify potential vulnerabilities or needs, including those associated with flooded roads or down trees.
Prepare your property.
- Check your insurance coverage: flood, falling trees.
- Clean your gutters, remove limbs/vegetation that could fall on your roof.
- Before a storm, secure patio furniture, umbrellas, decorations and other outdoor items that could blow away or cause damage during high winds.
Prepare for power outages.
- Have your stovepipe cleaned and woodstove serviced.
- Practice generator safety. Learn more at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/GeneratorSafety.
- Pack a Stay Bag with shelf stable food, water, warm clothing, medicine, and other essential supplies.
- Charge phones and backup batteries before the storm and have flashlights on hand.
Prepare for flooding.
- Check driveway culverts and culverts along private roads to ensure they are free of debris.
- If you have a creek or seasonal waterway consider if flooding could be an issue.
- To prepare for flooding, Nevada County provides self-serve sand at no cost.
- Bring your own shovel and sandbags. Sandbags are available for purchase online and at local hardware stores.
- Find self-serve sand locations at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/Sand.
Drive safely during heavy rain.
- Check windshield wipers and tires now.
- Make sure you have a winter preparedness bag in your car with a flashlight, water, gloves, jacket and snacks.
- Give yourself extra time on the road and be prepared for flooding, mudslides, downed trees and other hazards.
- Report flooding, mudslides or downed trees on County-maintained roadways to Nevada County Public Works at public.works@nevadacountyca.gov or 530-265-1411. Crews are on call after hours to respond to urgent issues.
- Respect road closure or traffic control signage. These signs are put in place for your safety and for the safety of any workers onsite.
Never drive through floodwater.
- Water on flooded roads can be deeper and faster-moving than it appears, and roadways may be damaged or washed out beneath the water.
- Turn around and find another route.
Stay away from downed power lines.
- Never touch or walk near a downed power line. Always assume it is energized and extremely dangerous.
- Report downed power lines by calling 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Sign up for Nevada County Alerts at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/EmergencyAlerts
Learn more about Generator Safety at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/GeneratorSafety.
Find out where to get free sand at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/Sand.
Report flooding, mudslides or downed trees on County-maintained roadways to Nevada County Public Works at public.works@nevadacountyca.gov or 530-265-1411
Report downed power lines by calling 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Laura Petersen is a freelance writer who lives in Grass Valley. This article was written on behalf of Nevada County. Contact Laura at laurapetersenmedia@gmail.com.
