MHRIA

02/20/2023

Storm Damage Repairs on Mines Road

All,

Please see an updated statement (below) regarding the work done by the County Roads and Airports. Apologies for any confusion. Thank you.

The County Roads Department has been diligently working to complete road repairs on Mines Road.

We are writing to provide status of all repairs on Mines Road as well as anticipated construction activities until repairs are completed.

On February 7th, the Contractor started work at the first location on Mines Road. This afternoon, they completed installation of the new culvert pipe, including placement of base rock cover, and metal plates. These metal plates allow for one lane of travel through the site until final paving can be completed. Successful asphalt placement is dependent dry weather and minimum temperatures. We anticipate that final paving can take place by the end of next week and the road fully opened at the first site by March 1st.

The same Contractor is scheduled to work on repairs at the second location on Mines Road which is currently open with one lane of travel. New culvert pipe has been ordered, however, due to supply chain issues, delivery is expected to take 4 to 5 weeks. When the Contractor receives the pipe, they will re-mobilize, and repair work will commence. This work will necessitate a 4-to-5-day full road closure. We will provide as much notice as possible of this closure, as well as keep it to an absolute minimum.

We will use this email to keep you and your neighbors informed of our progress.

Again, we appreciate your patience, and we are committed to getting Mines Road repaired and re-opened as fast as possible.

Regular progress updates for storm damage repair will be provided at the following website.

https://countyroads.sccgov.org/home or by phone, at 408-573-2400.

Louay Toma

The mission of the Roads and Airports Department is to preserve, operate, and enhance the County's expressways, unincorporated roads, and two general aviation airports in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the needs of the traveling public. The County's Roads Administration operates an...

02/07/2023

All,

I hope everyone is doing well. As I have shared in the past that the aim is to keep you updated whenever news comes up for your region. The director of the County’s Roads & Airports department would once again like to communicate information and support to the community. He sent the email below and we wanted to make sure it was received by all of you. Please feel free to share the content below with any neighbors who may not know this information but would need it. Additionally the County Roads & Airports Department has provided a general phone number for updates and for community members to call in and leave message: 408-573-2400 Thank you.

Please See Email From Director Freitas Below:

The County Roads Department has been diligently working to commence road repairs on Mines Road. We thank you for your patience and we recognize that the detours are lengthy, and the road closure is creating a hardship for residents who depend on Mines Road for access to jobs and services.

We are writing to provide status of when road repairs will begin and the length of time until repairs are completed.

The two sites were significantly damaged, and we have been assessing it and preparing designs for the reconstruction of the roadway and channel interface such that it will be an effective and lasting repair. We have located and obtained the large-diameter culvert pipe needed and, as you may be aware, the replacement pipe has now been delivered to the first (and worst) damage site. Finally, we have been working with our on-call contractor to finalize an agreement based on the specifics of the repair. This agreement was signed Friday 02/02/23.

The Contractor will start work, at the latest, by Tuesday. They will begin work at the first (worst) site and after completing work at this location, they will mobilize their crews to the second location on Mines Road. It is anticipated that work at both locations will take a total of 4 weeks. This schedule is dependent on weather conditions.

We will use this email to keep you and your neighbors informed of our progress.

Again, we appreciate your patience, and we are committed to getting Mines Road repaired and re-opened as fast as possible.

We will also be providing regular progress updates for storm damage repair at the following website.

https://countyroads.sccgov.org/home



Respectfully,

Louay Toma (Him/His) CEM, MPA
Sr. Emergency Manager
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800

The mission of the Roads and Airports Department is to preserve, operate, and enhance the County's expressways, unincorporated roads, and two general aviation airports in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the needs of the traveling public. The County's Roads Administration operates an...

01/12/2023

Winter Storms Road Update

All,

I hope everyone is doing well. I want to thank you for the opportunity to support you as we continue to facilitate and advocate on projects and needs. I have shared in the past that the aim is to keep you updated whenever news comes up for your region. We are aware that the rain patterns have come at a more formidable size then expected in the current time frame. As such, the director of the County’s Roads & Airports department reached out to our office to ensure that he was providing needed information to the community. He sent the email below and we wanted to make sure it was received by all of you. Please feel free to share the content below with any neighbors who may not know this information but would need it. Many thanks and wishing you all a safe upcoming year. Thank you.

Please See Below:

Dear Resident of San Antonio Valley and Vicinity,

We send this email to communicate the situation on Mines Road. As you are likely aware, Mines Road suffered significant storm damage resulting in drainage culvert washouts at Post Mile 26.5 and 27. The road is currently closed. The other options for travel to and from the Valley are Del Puerto Canyon Road to Patterson or over Mt. Hamilton Road to San Jose. We are aware that Del Puerto Canyon Rd has also been impacted by the recent storms but is currently open. We are also aware that access over Mt. Hamilton is difficult and long. However, until we can repair Mines Rd these are the only options. For additional information on County Road closures please go to https://countyroads.sccgov.org/roads-traffic-info/road-closures
Additional road information can be found at https://511.org/alerts/traffic

We have inspected the damages to Mines Road and have engaged a contractor to develop a plan for repair. We don’t currently have an estimate for when the road will reopen, but we will but will continue to keep you informed.

We appreciate your patience. Questions can be emailed directly to [email protected] .

Thank you,

Harry Freitas
Director of Roads and Airports
Santa Clara County



Respectfully,

Louay Toma (Him/His) CEM, MPA
Sr. Emergency Manager
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800

Get the latest traffic incident information for the Bay Area.

09/21/2021

CalHOPE Wildfire Outreach Program
All,

As you know our aim is to notify you whenever resources become available for wildfire relief. Attached is a flyer from an organization named California Hope regarding their Wildfire Outreach Program. Although we are over a year past the SCU fire there are still items that many of you are still dealing with, this organization can be an additional resource to utilize. Some of the resources they support with are:

FEMA Benefits
Employment + Economic Assistance
Financial Assistance + Aid
Housing
Utilities Assistance
Transportation
Pet/Animal Care + Boarding
Behavioral Health + Substance Abuse
Support for Older Adults
Disaster Planning
Support Group Meetings
1-1 Support Services

California Hope called our office and discussed their purpose of assisting community members who dealt with the devastation of the SCU Complex Fire. As many of you are hearing back from FEMA I.A. they may have resources to assist with your process as well. Please look over the attached flyer and reach out to their team if you feel their many services can support you.
If there are any questions/concerns about the topics discussed in this email or other items regarding the SCU Complex Fire, please feel free to reach out to me and I will be happy to assist or arrange for you the right person or agency to provide the appropriate insight or support. Thank you for your ongoing efforts and support.


Respectfully,

Louay Toma CEM, MPA
Sr. Emergency Manager
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800

09/10/2021

I hope this email finds you well. You are receiving this email because you registered for FEMA assistance in response to the 2020 SCU Lightning Complex Fire and your impacted address is in Santa Clara County.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County has launched a wildfire relief program under FEMA's Disaster Case Management for survivors of the 2020 SCU Lightning Complex Fire. The Disaster Case Management program can assist you with resources for a successful recovery. If you currently still have unmet needs related to the 2020 SCU Lightning Complex Fire and interested in our program, feel free to contact us via phone/text or email. We will assess your needs and provide assistance on a case-by-case basis.

Phone Number: (408) 396-0500
Email: [email protected]

For more information please see attached flyer.

Thank you,
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

08/27/2021

PG&E SCU Wildfire Wood Management Program
All,

We want to ensure that our community members continue to be informed about the work that PG&E will do to support those in the SCU Lightning Complex Fire footprint. In effort to include all applicable properties PG&E has extended their deadline to September 14th .

Principally property owners who are eligible have the opportunity to participate in this program, as PG&E has extended the deadline to submit written opt-in authorization to September 14. In addition to phone calls and door knocks that have been conducted to inform property owners of this work, PG&E is sending a customer letter and permission form to eligible property owners notifying them of the revised deadline to opt in. Property owner questions should be directed to [email protected] or 1-877-295-4949.

Over the next few weeks, you can expect to see PG&E contractor crews conducting wood removal work in your area. As a reminder, while this work is taking place on private property, PG&E and its contractors will obtain all required ministerial permits, such as encroachment permits, and reach out to the County directly to coordinate as soon as possible.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. Additionally, any property owner inquiries about the Wildfire Wood Management Program can also be directed to 1-877-295-4949 or [email protected].

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Louay Toma CEM, MPA
Sr. Emergency Manager
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800

07/01/2021

Mt. Hamilton Road Culvert Replacement

The County’s Contractor has agreed to modify their work plan to allow one lane of through traffic during the course of construction by means of one lane traffic control.

Please advise the residents of the following

Road Work from July 6th through July 16th from 7:00am until 5:00pm Mon-Fri.

Traffic may be momentarily delayed however, emergency, vehicular and bicycle traffic will be allowed to pass thru the construction zone.

We apologize for any inconvenience and undue stress this has caused to a community who has already suffered so much in recent years.

If there is anything I or my department can do please do not hesitate to reach out to me, day or night.

Very respectfully,

Jason L. Props, C.P.I.I., QSP
Principal Construction Inspector
Construction Operations
County of Santa Clara
Roads and Airports Department
101 Skyport Drive, San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 573-2421 Land line
(408) 690-6979 Cell
Email: [email protected]

06/01/2021

Anyone missing some cows? This cuties are in the middle of my property!
408-628-3573 Jennifer

04/20/2021

Grant funds available for range management Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County has a new grant program to support healthy soils on agricultural lands, including rangeland.
Grants are for up to $30,000. Practices funded for rangeland include range planting, prescribed grazing, and compost application. Application deadline is May 1st.

Here’s the link to program information and application.
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/dpd/Programs/Pages/ARI.aspx



Sheila Barry
Bay Area Natural Resources/ Livestock Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension
1553 Berger Drive, Bldg 1
San Jose, CA 95112

CA Certified Rangeland Manager #63
(408) 282-3106 office
(408) 438-8791 cell/txt

[email protected]
http://cesantaclara.ucdavis.edu/

In cooperation with COVID-19 precautions, our office is closed for face-to-face in person service until further notice.  While we regret the inconvenience, these are precautions we are taking to support each other.  UCCE Santa Clara Staff are telecommuting and can be contacted by phone: (408) 2...

02/06/2021

Wattle Availability Update.
In effort to continue dispersing the remaining wattles to the community. The County will once again be offering wattles. The dates/times and location will be: February 9th, 10th and 11th (Tuesday – Thursday) from 12pm to 3pm at the County Roads and Airports Corporation Yard at 47365 San Antonio Valley Road, Livermore 94550 there will be a 5 wattle maximum on the first two days with the ability to access whatever remains on the final day (Thursday the 11th).
Additionally If you are interested in obtaining public assistance with the removal of Hazard Trees on your property, you still have time! Public assistance for the removal of fire-damaged trees that may impact a public road or public infrastructure (“Hazard Trees”) is available through the State’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, even for parcels that do not have qualifying structural fire debris. To enroll, submit a Right-of-Entry Permit for each parcel you would like assessed to the County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) no later than February 15, 2021. Please include the words “Hazard Tree Only” prominently on the form. An additional form is not necessary for any parcels already enrolled in the program for structural debris removal. The Right-of-Entry Permit is attached to this email and available at this link, as well as on the DEH debris removal website, www.EHInfo.org/FireDebris. Permit forms will also be made available in hard copy format at next week’s wattle distribution event. Send the forms by February 15, 2021 to DEH’s physical or email address listed at the top of the form.

Under this program, state contractors will assess your property for Hazard Trees and remove eligible trees at no direct cost to you. If you have insurance that covers Hazard Tree removal, you will be required to reimburse the government for its costs to avoid a double benefit, but only to the extent of your Hazard Tree removal coverage. You will not otherwise be charged for the work. Please contact the Department of Environmental Health at (408) 918-3411 or [email protected] if you have questions or need assistance.

Any questions/concerns please feel free to reach out. Thank you greatly.


Respectfully,

Louay Toma CEM, MPA
Emergency Management
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800

OverviewMany who have lost their homes or suffered damage from the SCU Lightning Complex fires want to begin the rebuilding process as soon as possible. However, it is critical that this work be done safely and in a timely manner. The Department of Environmental Health has prepared this information....

01/30/2021

Important Community Update
As the most recent st******nt has moved out of the county we continue to be watchful as it appears a new st******nt looks to be moving in Tuesday afternoon. We want to remind you to be flood safe during this time as the vegetation damage due to the fire has left very little to prevent the slopes from sliding. Please make sure to monitor weather reports and consider your safety risk when a weather advisory is issued. Be prepared to leave before roads, creeks and waterways are flowing, or go to a neighbor on high ground and NEVER drive or walk into floodwaters or go around barricades. It is impossible to know how deep the water is just by looking at it. Additionally if you see anything of concern landslides, etc… please let us know.

Separately and just as important. Please know that behavioral health services are available to everyone in your community and without cost. County Behavioral Health has an Emotional Health and Well-Being line at (800)704-0900. If you are to utilize this wonderful resource you first have to select 1 or 2 for English or Spanish, and then you have the following options:
Selecting 1 - The su***de crisis line it is available 24/7 and not just for those who are suicidal you can call if you just any need mental crisis support.
Selecting 2 - The mobile crisis unit. If you are worried about a neighbor, friend, or a family member and want to help them with an assessment (even onsite).
Selecting 3 –Is for information about urgent mental health service clinics in the county that would be covered by MediCal.


The previous year has been difficult for everyone in the County. The addition of the SCU Complex Fire that you and your neighbors had to endure is more than anyone should need to face. Please do not hesitate to engage this or any other service that the County can provide. If you have questions about departments/services that the county offers do not hesitate to reach out and we would be happy to direct you to the appropriate point of contact. Thank you.



Respectfully,

Louay Toma CEM, MPA
Emergency Management
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800

01/29/2021

All,

As the storm weather continues we urge everyone to follow the recommendations and resources provided in the previous emails. If you have any questions about those resources please feel free to reach out we are more than happy to assist.

I am also writing with one further reminder about the deadline this Monday (February 1, 2021) for submission of Phase 2 debris removal applications. In addition to debris and ash from burned structures, Phase 2 debris removal covers removal of “Hazard Trees.” A “Hazard Tree” is a tree that’s been so badly damaged by the wildfires that it threatens to fall onto a public right-of-way or public infrastructure or threatens to fall onto or obstruct site access for work crews conducting debris removal cleanup. These trees are a threat to the health and safety of members of the public who use those public roads and to debris removal crews, and they need to be removed.

Enrollment in the Consolidated Debris Removal Program will allow state contractors to remove Hazard Trees from your property. If you have not yet submitted a Right-of-Entry Permit for your property, but your property has fire-damaged trees that have a risk of falling onto a public road, public right-of-way or public infrastructure, you are strongly encouraged to fill out and submit that form. If you submit a Right-of-Entry Permit, state contractors will assess your property for Hazard Trees and remove eligible trees at public expense. If you do not submit a Right-of-Entry Permit but your property is later determined to have Hazard Trees that are a danger to public health and safety, you may be required to remove those trees. You can access a Right-of-Entry Permit here and additional information about Phase 2 debris removal here.

If you have any questions about Hazard Tree removal or the Monday deadline for Phase 2 enrollment, please contact the Department of Environmental Health at [email protected] or (408) 918-3411. We are here to help and want to make sure that everyone eligible for this public assistance cleanup receives those benefits.

Thank you,


Respectfully,

Louay Toma CEM, MPA
Emergency Management
Santa Clara County Fire Department
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management
Office (408) 808-7800