Wildfire Safety and Preparedness

Shelly Fire smoke cloud Siskiyou County

Photo: PG&E via Pacific Coast Trail website

Greetings,

In recent weeks‚ a series of fires have erupted in the 1st Assembly District. My team and I have been in contact with local‚ state‚ and federal authorities to stay informed about the unfolding situations and we stand ready to provide any assistance necessary. The extensive experience gained from previous encounters with wildfires has equipped our local officials with the knowledge to navigate such disasters effectively.

A few important reminders about responding to wildfires:

  • Be Prepared: Have a go bag ready with important medications and documents‚ food‚ water‚ and a change of clothing. If you have pets‚ include pet food in your go bag and be sure to include them in your evacuation plan.
  • Sign Up for Alerts: Visit your county’s website or Office of Emergency Services page to ensure you have the most up to date information for your area. In a recent newsletter‚ we included information about Genasys Protect (Formerly Zonehaven) which is active in several counties (not all; Check your county website for how to sign up for alerts in your specific area). Learn more about Genasys Protect here.
  • Get Fuel: Don’t let your vehicles run low on fuel. If an evacuation notice is given‚ be sure you have enough fuel to get to safety.
  • Evacuate: When officials give notice‚ DO NOT HESITATE. Your life is the one thing you can’t replace.

You can find additional wildfire resources on my website here. My team and I continue to monitor these developments. To the affected communities‚ you are in our thoughts and prayers. Stay safe.

Assemblywoman Megan Dahle

DMV Transitions Services to Online

DMV Office Hours Change in Assembly District 01

The CA Department of Motor Vehicles has begun its “digital transformation”‚ where many office locations throughout the state will be shifted from in-person business to virtual offices. DMV has changed the hours for 20 offices throughout the state‚ four of which are within the First Assembly District.

In order to determine which offices would move to an adjusted schedule‚ the California Department of Motor Vehicles looked at transaction volumes‚ staffing‚ wait times‚ and other criteria. Offices will now be open 2-3 days a week and the DMV will no longer process‚ “simple transactions”‚ or transactions that can be completed online.

The following services are not available at DMV offices and must be done on-line‚ at a DMV kiosk‚ with a DMV business partner‚ or by mail.

The following cities will see their local DMV office hours changed:

  • Fall River Mills
  • Mount Shasta
  • Susanville
  • Yreka

I encourage constituents to create an online DMV account and to save your username and passwords somewhere safe and accessible‚ to avoid difficulty as you begin interfacing with the digital DMV.

For links to DMV’s online services and virtual offices‚ please see below.

My offices will be working with the DMV to make recommendations to ease this transition. We know many First Assembly constituents lack access to reliable home internet‚ or do not have the digital literacy to navigate the transaction processes online. Other constituents are opposed to the additional service convenience fees required for credit transactions‚ and some may not have a credit card to pay with at all.

We understand the frustration of constituents who have been used to going to an office and having DMV staff process their transaction in person and we will continue to Raise Rural Voices with the agency in an effort to assure equity in service for our rural constituency.

Heat Wave Safety Information

With high temperatures affecting much of the state‚ here are some resources and lifesaving information for our communities:

Heat Risk Tool:
Assess the risk in your community by visiting: Heat Risk Tool.

Share Preparedness Messaging:
Utilize the Extreme Heat Toolkit for easy sharing of preparedness messages.

Follow OCPSC’s Social Media:
For the latest Extreme Heat updates that you can easily share with your network‚ follow OCPSC:

Stay cool‚ stay hydrated‚ and stay connected!

Exciting News from Whiskeytown Recreation Area- Trails Reopen!

We are thrilled to announce that two popular trails in our district have reopened‚ marking a significant milestone in the recovery from the 2018 Carr Fire.

Kanaka Peak Trail and Brandy Creek Falls Trail (up to Lower Falls Overlook) are now open to visitors. These trails‚ cherished by locals for their stunning views and outdoor experiences‚ had been closed for several years. Their reopening is a testament to the hard work and resilience of our community and park staff.

Safety First:

  • Plan to hike early in the morning and stay hydrated. A 24-hour water filling station is available at the Visitor Center.
  • The upper section of Brandy Creek Falls Trail remains closed due to hazardous conditions caused by the fire. Please respect these closures for your safety.

The Carr Fire significantly impacted Whiskeytown National Recreation Area‚ a treasured part of our region where families‚ students‚ and nature enthusiasts gather to enjoy the outdoors. The reopening of these trails is a bittersweet reminder of the challenges we have faced and a celebration of the progress we have made in our recovery.

For more information‚ visit Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

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Assemblywoman Dahle is Honored to Serve
Alpine County‚ Amador County‚ El Dorado County‚ Lassen County‚ Modoc County‚ Nevada County‚ Placer County‚ Plumas County‚ Shasta County‚ Sierra County‚ & Siskiyou County.

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