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Welcome to your morning briefing. It's Thursday Aug. 27.

In this issue:

Santa Cruz Local gives you the critical information you need. Here’s a testimonial from Boulder Creek resident Wendy Selleck:
 
“Your articles and resources personally helped me sleep the other night using the link for the interactive map … I was zooming in the map to Foster Freeze and Oak Street. That's historic Boulder Creek. I live on Flat Street. So I appreciated your resource and used your webpage and all that. Thank you for all the information previously that I came to trust. You helped a lot of people last week."
 
We offer our journalism free as a public service, but it takes time and money to produce. We’re supported by memberships from people like you. We invite you to become a Santa Cruz Local member today.
Count me in! I'll become a Santa Cruz Local member.

CZU Lightning Complex Fire updates


Reopening plan
  • Scotts Valley residents could return home this week, Santa Cruz County sheriff’s Chief Deputy Chris Clark said in a news conference Wednesday evening.
  • Felton reopening could take a day or a week.
  • North of Felton is heavily damaged and could take a week or weeks, Clark said. 
  • Boulder Creek, Bonny Doon, Swanton and Davenport are expected to take weeks to reopen because of major damage to homes, utility lines, roads and roadside trees. 
  • For reopening updates, Scotts Valley residents can sign up for Scotts Valley police’s Nixle alert text messages. Cal Fire’s official evacuation map also is expected to be updated. 📰 Read Stephen Baxter’s story.
Missing men
Three men remained missing within the evacuation zone Wednesday evening, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Photos have been released. Call dispatch at 831-471-1121 if spotted.
  • Henry Reinke, 70. Reported last seen Aug. 20. 
  • Shane Smith, 21. Reported last seen Aug. 20. 
  • Micah Szoke, 37. Reported last seen Aug. 15. 
Fire updates
The wildfire was 21% contained Wednesday evening at 126 square miles, up from 124 square miles Tuesday evening and 122 square miles Monday evening, Cal Fire reported.
  • At least 408 homes have been destroyed, 39 homes damaged.
  • At least 49 non-residential buildings were destroyed, six damaged, Cal Fire said. 
  • About 55% of damage inspection maps have been verified enough to appear on the county’s preliminary damage map, said Cal Fire incident commander Billy See.
Fire victim benefits
  • Residents impacted by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire can register for federal assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
  • Registrants will need a Social Security number, household income, contact information, insurance information and bank account details if eligible for money.  📰 Read Stephen Baxter’s story.

Evacuation map

Wednesday, Cal Fire lifted its emergency evacuation order for many parts of UC Santa Cruz, shown in green. Click the image for an updated map. (County of Santa Cruz) Visit the Santa Cruz Local Wildfire Resources page for more maps.

Parts of Boulder Creek without water due to wildfire damage

Scores of homes and businesses around Boulder Creek remained without running water Wednesday as the San Lorenzo Valley Water District replaces 7.5 miles of water intake pipeline melted or otherwise damaged by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. 
  • Another melted pipeline that connects the plant to its main storage tank led to the loss of 4.5 million gallons of water — which is about half of the water district’s storage, said Rick Rogers, the water district’s director of operations.
  • The pipeline was made of plastic that can release toxic compounds. Even after water service is restored in Boulder Creek, consumers should not drink tap water until a comprehensive testing is completed, said Rogers. 📰 Read Jesse Kathan’s story. 

Update: Eviction protection extended to Jan. 15 for Watsonville tenants

  • A ban on evictions will protect city of Watsonville tenants who have lost money due to COVID-19. 
  • The council voted 5-1 for the ban late Tuesday night with Mayor Rebecca Garcia and Councilmembers Aurelio Gonzalez, Felipe Hernandez, Lowell Hurst and Ari Parker in favor. Mayor Pro Tempore Trina Coffman-Gomez voted against it.
  • Santa Cruz Local reported that the eviction ban would expire based on a 4-1 vote that needed five votes to pass earlier in the evening. 
  • A second vote was made about 11:15 p.m. after many attendees of the online meeting had left. It reversed the council’s decision earlier in the night. 📰 Read Kara Meyberg Guzman’s story.

Support local journalism that serves Santa Cruz County.

 
We are here to help you understand our county's biggest issues and possible solutions.

Please support local news with a Santa Cruz Local membership to help us continue this critical work.

 Santa Cruz Local's Wildfire Resources page has:

  • How to register for benefits and federal assistance
  • Cal Fire’s evacuation map, four interactive fire maps
  • How to find accommodations, food, supplies
  • How to help and donate
  • How to check if your loved ones are safe and well
  • How to get your mail
  • Local air quality and forecast
And more. We update this page frequently.
Visit the Santa Cruz Local Wildfire Resources page

Santa Cruz Local is here to help

Tell us what wildfire information and resources you need

 
Your feedback will drive our reporting on the August Lightning Complex Fire. We’ll post answers to frequently-asked questions on our Wildfire Resources page.
 
👉  Click here to tell us what you need

🙌 Give back: Join Santa Cruz Local's Pay it Forward campaign

Santa Cruz Local cares about our community. We want to lift up small local businesses, organizations and nonprofits that support Santa Cruz locals.
  • For every new member signup or upgrade to Santa Cruz Local at the Guardian level by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 18, we'll donate one newsletter ad and one podcast ad to two qualifying local organizations.
  • For every Defender-level member signup or upgrade, we'll donate a podcast ad and newsletter ad to one qualifying local organization.
Become a Guardian level Santa Cruz Local member today.
Local business and nonprofit leaders: Apply for Pay it Forward here.

What do you want local candidates to talk about as they compete for your vote in November?

Anina Van Alstine, 69, a real estate broker, said she doesn’t think downtown Santa Cruz will survive unless the city council steps in to help take care of the businesses and address homelessness. “It’s a dilemma all over the world, but they have to address it,” she said. (William Duncan -- Santa Cruz Local)

We want to hear from you too. Please take our survey.

 
What we hear will drive our questions for the candidates for Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola city councils and District 1 county supervisor.
Click here to tell us your priorities for the upcoming local election
Responde nuestra encuesta en español
Visit Santa Cruz Local's Elections 2020 page to see the list of candidates.

🙌 THANK YOU SANTA CRUZ LOCAL MEMBERS!

 
Thank you to all our 556 Santa Cruz Local members. We can’t do this work without your support.
 
We invite you to join our member community of smart, informed locals.
 
YES! I support local news. I'll become a Santa Cruz Local member.
As always, hit reply with any questions, thoughts or feedback. 

Kara Meyberg Guzman, Stephen Baxter & Natalya Dreszer
Santa Cruz Local
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