Nevada City, CA – On Tuesday, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office presented the Nevada County Evacuation Study to the Board of Supervisors. The study identified the five most vulnerable communities if evacuated due to wildfire: Alta Sierra, Lake Wildwood, Lake of the Pines, Cascade Shores/Banner Mountain, and Greenhorn.
“Becoming trapped on a roadway during an evacuation is the biggest and most universal concern we hear about from our residents across the county. This study provides us with a list of needs that we can seek grant funds for,” said OES Director Craig Griesbach.
The outcomes of the evacuation study are a list of projects that will be prioritized for grant funding. Projects range from large capital improvement projects to small neighborhood scale projects and include activities such as hazardous fuels removal, road widening and surface improvements, bridge replacements and signage.
The study compiled information on evacuation concerns from Firewise Communities and HOAs, and was funded by a CAL FIRE grant and the County. Read the full Evacuation Study here: https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3831/Nevada-County-Evacuation-Study.
Prepare Now for Fire Season
Prepare before fire season is here. Now is the time to:
- Make sure that you are signed up for CodeRED Emergency Alerts
- Identify your five emergency allies
- Know your evacuation routes
- Reduce fuels around your home with local free green waste options
In addition to CodeRED Emergency Alerts, the County uses hi-lo sirens, local news outlets, and the Ready Nevada County Dashboard to inform residents of an emergency. Residents can learn more about wildfire preparedness in the Ready, Set, Go! Guide that will be in mailboxes in June, or year-round at ReadyNevadaCounty.org. Follow Office of Emergency Services on Facebook @NevadaCountyOES for updates and tips on how to prepare.
In 2024, OES is working to prevent wildfires with 12 hazardous fuels reduction projects totaling over $13.5 million in funding from five different state and federal agencies. These projects will treat over 5,000 acres and 300 road miles thanks to funding support from CAL FIRE, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), United States Forest Service (USFS), Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Board, and others.
About the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES)
OES works under the Emergency Preparedness Board Objective, leading the community in all hazards planning, preparedness, response, and recovery with a focus on wildfire. OES focuses on improving county-wide evacuation routes and safety, continuing to strengthen early alert and critical communication systems, and working with residents and community partners in emergency preparedness, defensible space, home hardening, green waste disposal, and fire-safe land stewardship.
Learn more about wildfire preparedness at www.readynevadacounty.org.