|
When in doubt, talk about the weather.
This rain is really incredible. And dangerous. And disrupting. We need it. We curse it. We welcome it.
Sometimes we joke in California that when it rains it seems like the media declares STORM WATCH to incite fear and excitement over the weather. As a guy from Washington State it makes me giggle, but this year’s events are different. The threats are real. Cities - particularly public works crews and emergency operations centers - have been pulling weekly repeats of dealing with what are now 14 atmospheric rivers.
Cities and counties all over the state have been working diligently to address the impacts of rain and snow on their communities. San Bernardino in particular has faced a difficult situation, with snow that is completely unusual for the area. The County found itself surging resources, people and communications to deal with what was ultimately a deadly situation. I was impressed with the pacing of their emergency communications and the quality of their email outreach and media engagement. San Bernardino County was not alone in dealing with these significant weather events (San Bernardino County is not a Tripepi Smith client).
I keep checking the California drought maps to try and discover a silver lining in watching the drought-stricken areas of California slowly recede. Just a month ago, 99% of California was abnormally dry or worse. A month later, it is only 55%. It is a reminder that a good map can tell a great story. Hug a GIS expert. They can be your public information officer’s best friend.
Of course, drought relief does not offer any reprieve for those with homes that are flooding or falling off cliffs. Yet, it is also true that millions of Californians will have a more stable water supply and the agriculture industry will be rescued in some parts of California. These wins are worth celebrating while we work to address the safety of certain communities and situations in the State.
My respect and gratitude go out to all the staff working to support their communities, and a special thanks to the public works staff who are drenched and tired, but also heroic.
Stay Safe Out There,
| 
