Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to 2019. One of the ways I will be looking forward in 2019 is to take action based on lessons we learned in years past.

The first lesson that comes to mind, in the wake of the horrific 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons, is taking steps to be prepared. While many of the people who lost everything had only moments notice, we can learn from this tragedy and work to ensure it doesn't happen again.

By now most of us have heard about Calfire's Ready, Set, Go! program. Check out their helpful tips for making your home more safe, preparing for an emergency with an emergency supply kit and working with your family to create a wildfire action plan. Another helpful resource is the Home Inventory Guide published and distributed by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). Having a list of personal effects available can help speed up the claims process in the event of a wildfire, or any emergency where loss is experienced such as flood, earthquake or burglary.

Here at the county we will continue to work closely with other local agencies, including local fire districts, on emergency preparedness in our communities. I encourage each of you to take some time to evaluate your own preparedness and use the tools available to you to plan for your safety and the safety of your family.

In 2019 we will use the knowledge we've gained over the past several years as we focus on workforce housing, services and housing for the mentally ill, and the relationship between the citizens of North Auburn and the mid-placer shelter run by The Gathering Inn. We will also continue to work with our cities and town to ensure Placer County remains a great place to live and work. While we are all aware of the increasing divide in partisan politics at the national level, I am heartened by the commitment of local leaders, such as Auburn Mayor Cheryl Maki, to working together to get things done. I firmly believe that focusing on change at the local level is the most effective way to arrive at meaningful and lasting results.

As always, I am happy to answer any questions you might have or help you find the resources you need.

Thank you,

Jim Holmes
Placer County Supervisor, District 3