Where: Anza, California
Problem: Wildfires left residents without power and water.
Solution: RCAC staff coordinate emergency efforts to create a cooling station and emergency shelters.
In late July, shortly before wildfires would sweep across much of California in what would become the state’s worst fire season on record, firefighters in Riverside County were already hard at work battling the Cranston fire 10 miles north of the rural community of Anza.
Unfortunately, their eventual victory over the flames didn’t come soon enough for the residents of Anza who found themselves without power and water for two weeks straight after the fire destroyed electric transmission lines.
“We were doing our best to notify the public about where to get water for human consumption and for their animals’ use,” said Merl Johnson, Anza’s water system manager. He noted that a public meeting was held to discuss options and solutions. Ultimately, some 8,000 people would be affected by the water and power outages.
He also desperately e-mailed Jennifer Hazard, Rural Development Specialist (Community & Environmental), who works with Johnson on the Anza Regional Water Planning Project.
“Our local electric co-op has acquired generators and they will be revolving electricity around for two hours,” he informed her, asking for assistance on July 26. “I am going to be providing water for human and livestock consumption from Anza Mutual Water Company today and through the interim.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about what’s going on in Anza, it sounds like a nightmare,” Hazard responded at 11:16 p.m. that same day. “Please let me know what the emergency effort has entailed. First thing in the morning, I will inquire as to what type of interim solution we can provide.”
Their brief, at times rather frantic, communication represents many of the challenges rural communities, particularly in the American West, face. A drier climate, drought and a faster paced wildfire season have laid bare the need to help rural areas expand and improve their water and wastewater infrastructure.
Hazard ultimately coordinated emergency efforts with Johnson, the Anza Electric Coop, the local Red Cross office and equipment suppliers and local retailers. By day’s end, a “cooling station” was set up at Anza Community Hall, Anza’s Hamilton High School was transformed into an emergency shelter, bottled water was available for distribution, and emergency generators were brought in to supply area residents with temporary rolling power.
