This Christmas storm has broken records back to 1970 so we ask for your patience and support to all our first responders, staff, utility workers, and businesses who are trying to keep all of us safe and secure. Please see the following notes and make sure to do your best to help those around you. If you need non-emergency assistance, please call 211.
Stay put, stay safe, and help those around you.
Cindy Gustafson
Placer County Supervisor, District 5
Update from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office
We are asking anyone and everyone to please stay home today. I-80 closed in BOTH directions at Applegate due to trees down. Foresthill Road remains closed and anything off that road is unplowed. This photo was taken this morning at the overpass in Colfax. Emergency crews cannot keep up with the snow-packed roads and downed trees. Please stay home. Backroads are expected to have the same issues. We have no estimated time for when I-80 at Applegate and Foresthill Road will reopen.
Update from CAL FIRE
We are working though the mitigation of last nights storm and preparing for the second round tonight. I wanted to give you all an update on the efforts from CAL FIRE / Placer County Fire Department. Our jurisdictional areas in the County that have been hit hard include the I80 corridor from Colfax east to the Summit and down into the Truckee Basin and into North Tahoe. Additionally, we are coordinating and sharing resources across the Hwy 174 and Hwy 49 corridors into Nevada County.
- We have established an ICS organization and two Branches (North and East) for operational objectives. Each of those Branches has Battalion Chiefs that are coordinating the operations including emergency response, road and downed tree mitigations, infrastructure security at State and County fire facilities, continuity of Operations at all of our communication sites, and support to the County EOC. We will communicate the OES mission tasking process with OES for access to State resources for outside agencies
- We have all of our County, Volunteer, and State engine companies fully staffed and are assigning those resources throughout priority areas using system status management in the Grass Valley ECC.
Update from CHP – Truckee
I-80 CLOSED from Applegate to the Nevada Stateline.
SR-89 Closed from Tahoe City to Squaw Valley Rd. due to an avalanche.
– SR-267 CLOSED from Northstar to Kings Bings Beach. – SR-89 CLOSED from Truckee to Sierraville. – SR-89 CLOSED from Bliss State Park to Eagle Point Campground – US 50 CLOSED from Placerville to Myers.
We received approximately 193.7” of snow as of this morning breaking our 1970 record UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab
Do not try to take back roads in order to avoid closures, you will get stuck! Also, do not trust your GPS or google maps as some closures are not reported on their apps. You can check current and up to date road conditions here: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/roadscell.php
IF YOU ARE UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING, FIND SHELTER RIGHT AWAY
- Stay off roads.
- Stay indoors and dress warmly.
- Prepare for power outages.
- Use generators outside only and away from windows.
- Listen for emergency information and alerts.
- Look for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
- Check on neighbors.
DURING THE STORM
- Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.
- Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
- Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
- Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.
- Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and begin treatment right away.
- Check on neighbors. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.
RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND
- Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes.
- Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
- Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
- Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.
- Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness
- Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first — chest, neck, head, and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.
RESOURCES
- Placer County Snow Preparedness page
- Winter Safety Social Media Toolkit
- Winter Storm Information Sheet (PDF)
- National Weather Service
- American Red Cross
- How to Prepare for a Winter Storm (PDF)
- Winter Storm Playbook (PDF)
- When The Sky Turns Gray – Animated (Video)
Winter Weather Alerts
KNOW YOUR AREA’S RISK FOR WINTER STORMS
Extreme winter weather can leave communities without utilities or other services for long periods of time.
For real-time travel information from the National Weather Service — follow our weather and traffic Twitter list: https://twitter.com/i/lists/1086405749754933248
Stay travel prepared with CALTRANS traffic cameras!
Did you know that CALTRANS has traffic cameras that you can view before you travel? You can see them in our Ready Placer dashboard to help you with all your travel and winter storm needs! From road conditions to power outages — our dashboard has you covered!
Social Media
Facebook
Placer County Placer County Sheriff’s Office
CAL FIRE Nevada Placer Yuba Unit
CHP Truckee
Twitter
Placer County Placer County Sheriff’s Office
CAL FIRE Nevada Placer Yuba Unit
CHP Truckee
Contact information:
175 Fulweiler Ave., Auburn, CA 95603
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson: cindygustafson@
District Aide Sophie Fox: sfox@placer.ca.gov
Deputy District Director Katelynn Hopkins: khopkins@placer.ca.
Assistant District Aide Lindsay Thayer: lthayer@placer.ca.gov
