If you are in a position where you are safe and secure, please consider joining our Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for our installation ceremony during the first Board hearing of the year on Tuesday January 10th at 9am. During the ceremony, I will be installed as Chair for the 2023 Board of Supervisors and we will be celebrating the swearing in of recently elected County officials.

It is tradition for the incoming Chair to set the program for the ceremony. This year, our ceremony will take place the day after the 5-year anniversary of the 1/9 debris flow. Our county (and our whole country and world) have been through a lot in the 5 years since that devastating day. We have had to rebuild, recover, and adapt to new ways of life. My hope for this installation ceremony to reflect on our resiliency while recognizing more change is likely on the way and inspiring hope that we have the tools to address what lies ahead.

I’m honored to have Rabbi Steve Cohen from Congregation B’nai Brith doing the invocation; Dr. Aazam Feiz reading two Iranian poems; my cousin Kelsey Klein performing my daughter’s first favorite song, a song about hope and resiliency, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail);” and Karla Mora, founder and managing partner of Alante Capital, as our keynote to speak about climate change advocacy and actions we can all take for a better future.

It is also with a heavy heart and abundance of caution that I, along with our community partners, have to announce that we will be canceling the 1/9  5-year anniversary “Raising our Light” event due to the incoming storm and the uncertainty we are all too familiar with which that brings. See below regarding the weather advisory for info on how to ensure you are prepared for the incoming storm. We look forward to finding another date in the future to recognize this significant anniversary.

Feelings of fear, stress, depression and more are normal around an anniversary of a tragic event, especially when there is a storm rolling in and the threat of evacuations. Our Community Wellness Team is here to help, they can be reached at 805-364-2750. Please take care of yourself and others.

Monday, Jan. 9 through Tuesday, Jan. 10

An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for identified properties and areas in south Santa Barbara County associated with the Alisal, Cave and Thomas Fires. A map showing these locations can be found, here. This EVACUATION WARNING is due to an incoming storm Monday, Jan. 9 through Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 with the potential to produce flooding and debris flows.

Click here to access the interactive Santa Barbara County 20 23 January Winter Storm Incident Map.

This EVACUATION WARNING may be upgraded to an Evacuation Order unless there are significant changes to the weather forecast.

Residents should:

• PREPARE to leave: fill gas tank, load up important documents, essential items, etc.
• LEAVE if you feel unsafe. DO NOT wait for an evacuation order.
• Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

People with disabilities, access, and functional needs should leave now.

People with large animals should leave now.

DO NOT attempt to drive while it is dark or raining, as roads may be damaged or your car may be swept away by moving water or debris.

BE PREPARED to sustain yourself and your household for multiple days if you choose not to evacuate, as you may not be able to leave the area and emergency responders may not be able to access your property in the event of road damage, flooding, or a debris flow.

Resources & Information:

• For animal evacuation information, call Santa Barbara County Animal Services at (805) 681-4332.
• For Evacuation Center assistance and additional information, contact the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (833) 688-5551 or call 2-1-1.

For more information on how to prepare for and stay safe during winter storms and flooding, visit https://www.readysbc.org/576/Storm-Readiness.

To access the Santa Barbara County 2023 January Winter Storm Incident Map, visit www.ReadySBC.org.

Register for Emergency Alerts to receive any changes in protective actions.

During our first board meeting of the year, we will have a ceremony where we will install the newly Elected Officials and have my installation as Chair of the 2023 Board of Supervisors. I invite you to join our ceremony.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.

County Administration Building

Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor

105 East Anapamu Street

Santa Barbara, California

The ceremony will be televised live on

County of Santa Barbara Television Channel 20

and streamed live on the County of Santa Barbara Website

www.countyofsb.org

All are encouraged to take a moment during 1/9 to remember and pay tribute in their own way to all that was lost. Remain vigilant as storms continue to pass through our area, heed evacuation warnings, and stay safe.