Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Local Animals Need Your Help (Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test on Oct. 4)

Local Animals Need Your Help

Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) is facing a critical situation and is reaching out to the local community for support. SBCAS is currently providing care and shelter for over 1,000 animals across their three shelters and in foster care. Despite hiring additional staff, the shelters are now out of space, making it difficult to accommodate animals in need.

To address this urgent situation, SBCAS is launching a special adoption campaign. From now through October 10, 2023 adoption fees for pets will be reduced to just $10. This incredible opportunity to give a loving home to a furry friend not only saves you money but it provides a lifeline to an animal in need.

Additionally, SBCAS is encouraging community members to consider becoming foster parents for animals. This “Walk-in Foster Matching” program allows individuals or families to provide temporary homes for animals until more permanent solutions can be found. SBCAS provides all the supplies that foster families need.

Learn More

Get Four Free Covid Tests

Every household in the U.S. can now order FREE at-home COVID-19 tests.

Step 1: Head to COVIDTests.gov to order.

Step 2: Fill out your contact and shipping information.

Step 3: Submit your order and have them delivered to your mailbox.

Need help placing an order? Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages.

Visit CovidTests.gov
Disaster Rural Assistance Deadline Approaching
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers Rural Disaster Loan Assistance in Santa Barbara County for storm damage that occurred from February 21, 2023 through July 10, 2023. The deadline to apply for loans for physical damage is coming up on October 10, 2023.

SBA has established a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to provide personalized assistance to business owners, homeowners, and renters. SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to business owners and individuals to:

  • answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program
  • explain the application process
  • help each person complete their electronic loan application

Applicants may call or email as indicated below:

Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Open Monday – Friday

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Email: FOCWAssistance@sba.gov

Call: (916) 735-1512

Emergency Alert System Test Tomorrow

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at approximately 11:20 a.m.

What to expect:

  • You may receive an EAS message on your TV or radio.
  • You may receive a WEA message on your cell phone.
  • The test message will say “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.”

What to do:

  • No action is required from the public.
  • DO NOT CALL 911 or your local emergency management office.

Why is this test important?

EAS and WEA alerts are critical tools used by local, state, and federal public safety agencies to warn the public about emergencies and disasters. By participating in this test, you can help to ensure that these systems are working properly and that you will receive emergency alerts when you need them most.

To learn more about EAS and WEA alerts, visit the ReadySBC website at readysbc.org.

Large Item Pickup Program Expanding

Beginning October 1, customers of MarBorg (City and unincorporated areas) are now eligible for up to four large item pickups (of up to five items, boxes, or bags) each year. The program will also be expanded to include residents in apartment buildings, who will no longer have to rely on landlords to schedule pickups.

  • Call MarBorg at (805) 963-1852 to schedule your pickup.
  • Gather items and place them by the curb only on the morning of your assigned pickup day. (Placing items by the curb anytime other than your scheduled pickup day will be treated as an illegal dumping.)

Before you trash it –  Are these items in good working order, and would someone else find them valuable? Many people have use for:

  • Furniture, appliances, electronics, and exercise and play equipment
  • Rocks, plants, and dirt
  • Bricks, concrete chunks (riprap), and other construction materials
  • Lumber and firewood

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Das Around Town

Das visiting the Terrace Foundation community supported agriculture facility that is working to address hunger.

Das speaking about affordable housing and clean energy at the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce Public Policy meeting.

Das joins Sansum Clinic CEO Dr. Kurt N. Ransohoff to cut the ribbon on Sansum’s partnership with Sutter Health.

Contact Us: (805) 568-2186

Das Williams, 1st District Supervisor

Darcel Elliott, Chief of Staff

Kadie McShirley, District Representative

Spencer Brandt, District Representative & Scheduler