Local & Community
Supervisors Approve Emergency Declaration for Storm-Impacted Area
(CNS) – Riverside County supervisors Tuesday approved a resolution declaring a local state of emergency stemming from storm damage in the southeast Coachella Valley, where electrical transmission lines were knocked down during high winds and flooding, leaving hundreds without power for days.
In a 5-0 vote, the Board of Supervisors affirmed an emergency declaration issued by the Imperial Irrigation District within a day of the Aug. 30 monsoonal thunderstorms that wreaked havoc on the area around North Shore.
According to the Riverside County Emergency Management Department, 33 utility poles were toppled in gale-force winds, and flash floods caused additional property damage. Roughly 1,400 residents lost power, and the IID is continuing with repairs to the utility infrastructure in the wake of the storms.
Supervisor Manuel Perez, whose Fourth District encompasses the area, said 662 IID customers remained without electrical service for nearly five days after the adverse weather event.
“We mobilized as quickly as we could,” Perez said. “All these organizations stepped up, and it was something I had not seen before, not to this degree.”
EMD Director Bruce Barton said the county dispatched multiple agencies to the impact zone, including the Department of Housing, Homeless Prevention & Workforce Solutions, the Department of Animal Services and the Office on Aging.
“Our incident response team … was out there,” Barton told the board. “We facilitated housing resources as needed.”
Residents whose power had not been restored two days after the storm were issued hotel vouchers by IID to escape the triple-digit heat and remain safely sheltered.
Barton said that the North Shore Beach & Yacht Club and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio were at the forefront of offering aid. The resort even made three concert venue spaces available for mass shelter, but most IID customers opted for the hotel vouchers instead.
He acknowledged that there were some delays in supplying services on Aug. 30 because of the Chaparral Fire near Murrieta, as well as a diesel fuel spill on Interstate 10 and obstructions on streets going into North Shore caused by the weather.
“We’ll go back and figure out how to do things even better next time,” Barton said.
On Sept. 8, the EMD director declared an emergency, but that declaration was due to expire this week, requiring the full board to support the local emergency with its own proclamation.
By submitting that to the California Office of Emergency Services, the IID will be eligible to receive disaster assistance grants to pay for repairs.
Perez requested that the county convene a community meeting in North Shore in the next two to three weeks, providing an opportunity for residents to ask officials questions and offer input on what they would like to see in the future.
“Government can’t do it all,” the supervisor said. “We’ll do what we can to the extent that we can. But some things are not going to be realistic.”
Copyright 2021, City News Service, Inc.
By: Ceci Partridge
September 14, 2021
Latest Instagram Posts
Alice B. has announced its closing its doors. It’s cozy atmosphere and unique seasonal menu made it a must try and even landed it in the Michelin guide. @susanfeniger and @marysuemilliken left their mark on the desert over at Living Out and it will be missed. Here’s a clip from one of our last interviews with Susan.
Cathedral City City Council votes to rename “LGBT+ Days” to “Cathedral City Pride”. The council approved the change in a 5-0 vote during its latest meeting, updating the official name of the city’s annual celebration. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs to see what this means to the Coachella Valley Community #CathedralCity #pride #CityCouncil #CoachellaValley #LocalNews
Discover the Coachella Valley with the Everything Palm Springs app. From iconic attractions and hidden gems to local restaurants, shops, entertainment and even filming locations, the map-based app is designed to help both visitors and locals find more of what the desert has to offer. Creator Lindsay Kinkle is also expanding the app with video tours and narrated guides, giving users another way to explore Palm Springs and the surrounding communities. Local businesses like Buena Matcha are also getting a chance to connect with new customers through the platform. As Lindsay says, there’s so much to do and enjoy here — you just have to know where to look. #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #EverythingPalmSprings #PalmSpringsApp #VisitPalmSprings DesertLife LocalBusiness CoachellaValleyBusiness NBCPalmSprings
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
What’s next for Palm Desert? Join community leaders, local businesses and regional stakeholders for the 2026 State of the City Address. Topics: • Economic Development • Infrastructure • Public Safety • Community Programs • Palm Desert’s Future CTA: Friday, September 18 | 11:30 AM JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Former Silvercrest CEO, William Rodriguez is expected back in court today in connection with the deadly 2024 Cathedral City hit and run that killed a woman. The murder charge was dismissed, but Rodriguez still faces felony hit and run and suspended license charges.
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Murder suspect Vicky Kim has once again not been cleared to appear in court. Kim is accused of killing her husband at their Palm Desert condominium complex. Her arraignment has now been delayed three times. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we track the latest developments in this case. #VickyKim #PalmDesert #CoachellaValley #BreakingNews #CourtUpdate NBCPalmSprings
Palm Springs is mourning the loss of beloved entertainer James “Gypsy” Haake, who has died at 94. Haake began his entertainment career at just 19 years old as a Broadway chorus dancer. After retiring from the stage, he returned to performing at 82, becoming the host of Carnival Cabaret at Oscars in downtown Palm Springs. A longtime friend of our station, Haake was a familiar and beloved figure in the Palm Springs entertainment community — and his contributions were recognized with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. His career spanned more than seven decades, proving that the spotlight never truly left him. ❤️ Rest in peace, James “Gypsy” Haake. Your legacy will live on in Palm Springs. #JamesGypsyHaake #PalmSprings #PalmSpringsWalkOfStars #CarnivalCabaret #PalmSpringsEntertainment #OscarsPalmSprings #PalmSpringsHistory
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry