Over 15,000 Nevada County PG&E customers are going on day six without power. During times of need, Nevada County has a history of coming together to support each other. This once-in-a-lifetime storm event calls upon us all to act. 

Yesterday, the County sent a CodeRED Emergency Alert in hopes of reaching those that have been disconnected. We hope this will spur the community into action and connect vulnerable people to available resources.

Residents are encouraged to apply the “Find Your Five” principle used during fire season to check-in on residents without power.  If you can, please connect with at least five neighbors who may be alone, remote, or in need of extra help, and report their unmet needs to 1-833-DIAL211.  

The more connected we are as a community, the more likely we are to get accurate information in a timely manner that might help a neighbor survive an emergency. 

  • Are there out-of-power residents who need food, water, or something else? Help report it to 211 Connecting Point 24/7 Call Center at 1-833-DIAL211 with their contact information, address, and phone number.
  • If you have volunteer time or free resources to donate like firewood, gas, or the ability to assist with driveway clearing, etc., please check in with your neighbors who may be alone, remote, or need extra help. 
  • If you are a vendor/business that offers needed services such as snow plowing or firewood, please let 1-833-DIAL211 know as we work to connect residents with available services.

Shelters are open

Two shelters are available at Bear River High School at 11130 Magnolia Road, Grass Valley, and Nevada City Veterans Hall at 415 North Pine Street in Nevada City. Both locations provide heat, power and charging stations, as well as food and water. A Warming Center is open at Madelyn Helling Library from 8AM to 10PM today and 8AM to 6PM Sunday at 980 Helling Way in Nevada City. Please call our partners at 211 Connecting Point at 1-833-DIAL211 for up-to-date information on transportation options. 

Share accurate information on social media

We understand community members are concerned for the most vulnerable among us and are tracking emergency status via social media. We are doing our best to keep everyone informed. During the initial investigations, none of the deaths appear to be related to exposure. Sharing reliable and verified information from local media sources (YubaNet, The Union, KVMR, KNCO, Moonshine Ink, and Sierra Sun) or official government channels (Nevada County, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, and Nevada County Sheriff’s Office) and communicating directly with friends and neighbors is an important part of communicating during an emergency.

Nevada County Declaration of Local Emergency

Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services declared a Local Emergency on Monday, December 27th, which went into effect immediately. Nevada County was the first impacted County to declare a Local Emergency and staff has been deployed nonstop–many working 24/7 on 12-to-14-hour shifts–plowing roads and responding to urgent community needs.

On December 30th, the Board of Supervisors held a Special Meeting to ratify the emergency proclamation. Ratification is a necessary formality, but it has not delayed the County’s ability to access the outside resources needed to respond to this emergency event. Nevada County was also included in the Governor’s State of Emergency proclamation. 

The Local Emergency proclamation and State of Emergency proclamation enables Nevada County to more effectively respond to the snowstorm, seek and utilize mutual aid, obtain State and Federal funds if available, and ensure that the County’s resources and economy, as well as the community at large, have all the necessary tools available to endure this ongoing challenge.

For current roads, shelter, and storm information, visit www.MyNevadaCounty.com/StormInfo or call 1-833-DIAL211.