SANTA ROSA – On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved the Recovery and Resiliency Framework which serves as a vision and approach for how Sonoma County will recover and emerge more resilient from the October 2017 wildfires. The Framework was prepared by the County’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency in collaboration with other County departments and agencies, cities and other jurisdictions, nonprofits, and other community stakeholders.
“In 2017, a catastrophic wind storm created a regional fire siege that destroyed homes, took lives, and tested our resilience. We have responded in force. Those who lost their homes have led the way, showing true strength and resolve as they manifest the transition from victims, to survivors, to thrivers,” stated James Gore, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We as leaders have followed suit, leveraging the urgency of this moment to drive progress on recovery while reaching further and deeper into the need to become the most resilient County in the Nation. This framework and its mandate for action demonstrates that commitment. Whether faced by natural disasters, manmade events, or economic downturns, Sonoma County’s vibrancy in the future will depend upon our ability to stand strong and drive progress in spite of the external pressures we face.”
The Framework draws from the structure, functions, roles, and principles in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Disaster Recovery Framework and focuses on five key strategic areas: community preparedness and infrastructure, housing, economy, safety net services, and natural resources. It is a culmination of input provided by community members and stakeholders during an extensive community engagement period that included seven countywide community meetings, an online survey, and feedback meetings with over 80 community organizations and local partners.
Of the 273 potential action items identified in the Framework, a total of 31 have been completed and 103 are already underway. Following this approval, under the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, the Office of Recovery and Resiliency will continue to oversee the implementation of proposed actions, pursue project funding, and develop key indicators to track recovery and resiliency. The Framework and list of the proposed actions are posted to the Office of Recovery and Resiliency website at
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/ORR/
The Office of Recovery and Resiliency was created by the Board of Supervisors in December 2017, two months after a series of wildfires that erupted the night of October 8 took 24 lives, destroyed 5,300 homes and burned 110,000 acres.