Village Beat
by Kelly Mahan
has been Editor at Large for the Journal since 2007, reporting on news in Montecito Kelly and beyond. She is also a licensed Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Calcagno & Hamilton team. She can be reached at Kelly@montecitojournal.net.
Save the Date for Emergency Notification Test
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n Wednesday, June 15, Montecito Fire Protection District (MFPD) in collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, will conduct a test of the emergency notification methods utilized by MFPD. The test, which begins at 10 am, will include all the methods currently utilized to notify the community during an emergency: “Aware & Prepare,” the Hearo emergency broadcast radio, and social networking sites. “This is a great time for residents to review their notification systems, and, if necessary, to register for emergency alerts,” said MFPD communications coordinator Jackie Jenkins. The newest emergency notification system, Aware & Prepare, was launched in Santa Barbara County earlier this year and aims to keep residents, staff, and emergency personnel safe and informed with quick and reliable emergency notifications and public service announcements. The system will be used to alert residents about a variety of events, ranging from severe weather, fires, floods, and other emergencies, to more routine announcements, such as road closures and water utility maintenance. Messages are sent to residents on their preferred contact path, including cell phone, SMS (text message), home phone, email, fax, pager, and others. Messages will describe the emergency and what actions community members should take. “The system ensures real-time access to potentially lifesaving information,” Jenkins said. Residents listed in the Santa Barbara County 911 database have already been automatically subscribed to alerts by phone, but Aware & Prepare allows citizens to self-register, provide additional contact information, or opt out. “I strongly encourage every resident to register,” Jenkins said, adding, “it’s easy and takes just a few minutes.” Jenkins took us through the process of registering during a visit to Fire Station 1 last week and explained that Aware & Prepare is a different system from NIXLE, which is the former notification system used by the District. Aware & Prepare will eventually become the primary method of alerting the community to emergencies and important events. The system is location-based, and users can choose multiple locations from which to receive alerts. “If your fami-
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ly members live in one ZIP code, and you live in another, you can set your alerts to receive notifications if there is an emergency in their area,” Jenkins explained. “It gives peace of mind.” Visit awareandprepare.org to register. Also being tested on June 15: the Hearo emergency broadcast radio, a desktop radio many residents and business owners have purchased from the District. When activated by MFPD personnel, a loud, audible alert tone will sound from the radio, followed by scrolling text with instructions on how to respond to the emergency. The system utilizes FM frequencies to distribute the notifications via the Hearo Network through a partnership established with KDB Radio, FM 93.7. The radios are programmed with the associated address that corresponds with pre-identified evacuation zones within the District. During an actual emergency, the Reverse 911 and Hearo Radios will only be activated for zones immediately affected by or adjacent to an emergency incident. To obtain a Hearo emergency warning radio receiver, please contact Jenkins at 565-8010. During emergencies, MFPD will also utilize Facebook, Twitter, and the District’s website, which are accessible by computer or smart phone. The June 15 notification test will be conducted using pre-identified evacuation zones. See attached map or go to www.montecitofire.com/dis trict-map. The schedule is as follows: 10 am to 11:30 am, Zones 1, 2, 3: From the Western Montecito District Boundary along Gibraltar and El Cielito Rd. to Hot Springs Rd., North of Hwy. 192. 11 am to 1 pm: Zones 4, 5, 6, 7: From Hot Springs Rd., to the Eastern Montecito District Boundary, along Ladera Ln., North of Hwy. 192. 1 pm to 2:30 pm, Zones 8, 9, 10: From the Western Montecito District Boundary along Sycamore Canyon Rd. to San Ysidro Rd., south of Hwy.192, and north of Hwy. 101. 2:30 pm to 4 pm, Zones 11, 14, 15: San Ysidro Rd. to Ortega Ridge Rd., between Hwy. 192 and Hwy. 101 (Zone 11) and Olive Mill Rd. to the Eastern Montecito Boundary along Fernald Point Ln., South of Hwy. 101 (Zones 14, 15). 4 pm to 5:30 pm, Zones 12, 13: Western Montecito District Boundary
to Olive Mill Rd., South of Hwy. 101. After the test, MFPD residents are encouraged to complete a survey online: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ MFDNotifications. For more information, visit www. montecitofire.com.
Dead Trees in Montecito
Also happening at Montecito Fire Protection District: the battle to combat stressed and dying trees in our area. Fire personnel say they are aware that more trees are showing signs of severe stress due to the continuing drought. The diminishing ground moisture, and in some cases completely dried soil conditions, have weakened the defense systems of native oaks and ornamental pines, and even the hardiest of the tree specimens, including eucalyptus trees, are starting to die, according to wild land fire specialist Kerry Kellogg. Kellogg explains that moisture stress causes trees to be attacked and killed by native insects or diseases, because they lose their ability to produce sufficient sap to ward off these attacks. Even if we get more rain in the coming year, or residents water their trees, drought-related tree mortality is known to continue beyond the end of a drought because precipitation benefits are not immediate. “It will take time for trees to recover and for the invasive beetle populations to decline,” Kellogg explained. Beyond the visible changes to Montecito’s aesthetics, dead and weakened trees are a major concern for fire personnel, as it is hard to predict how a tree will fall once it comes down. “A dead tree may continue to stand for several years, but eventually it will come down,” Kellogg said. Property owners are encouraged to assess the trees they own for tree health, and address the liability of having a drought-killed tree on their property. In California, it is assumed that the liability is the responsibility of the homeowner, Kellogg explained. The District is especially concerned with dead and weakened trees that will fall directly onto roadways and into power lines. Trees and falling branches that come in contact with power lines have the potential to start vegetation fires or cause power surges, as we saw happen in April. Southern California Edison (SCE) can and will help, and residents should contact SCE if they see dead or dying trees on their property with the potential to make contact with power lines. Dead standing trees also provide opportunities for the spread of fire by casting embers into the community. In addition, dead, weakened trees and large limbs have the potential to come down during periods of high winds
• The Voice of the Village •
Dead trees are the norm throughout Montecito thanks to years of below-average rainfall and a continued drought
creating safety and access issues. MFPD reps are asking residents to examine their landscape for drought-related die off and come up with a plan to remove dead trees and vegetation. “We understand that a large tree removal is both complex and costly,” Kellogg said. “The cost of removing tree can go up if the tree is allowed to continue to rot and become unstable. We are available to help assist in developing a plan for removal.” MFPD recently sent out an “Annual Fire Hazard Abatement Notice” in the mail. In the mailer are Montecito Fire Protection Defensible Space Requirements, which should be completed by this week. Fire District Staff will now start the process of individual property inspections for compliance to Defensible Space Requirements. As a result of the ongoing tree mortality in Montecito, the Fire District has developed the following criteria for evaluating dead trees and the need for their removal: any dead tree that is located within the required 100-foot defensible space shall be removed; any dead tree that will compromise access/egress for both the public and first responders shall be removed; any tree that will compromise community infrastructure (utility lines, water systems, transportation routes) must be removed; any dead trees located in an established Fuel Treatment Network need to be evaluated for removal; all dead trees located within High Fire Severity Zones need to be evaluated as a potential fire threat to the community. Fire District Prevention staff is available to meet with property owners to evaluate dead trees and help residents develop a plan for removal. For more information, call 969-7762.
Power Surge Update
In April, we told you about a major wind event that occurred in Montecito, knocking out power to dozens of homes and causing thou-
VILLAGE BEAT Page 164 2 – 9 June 2016