County Update

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District 2 Update

Be Ballot Ready to Vote

key dates

Remember October 5th is the deadline to register to vote.  You can have a ballot mailed to you, or you can vote in person. Early ballots mail on October 7. In-person voting will be available October 7 - November 3. All voting locations will follow strict physical distancing and cleaning guidelines.

Get started at BeBallotReady.vote.

Interested in being a poll worker? Sign up here>


Sears Fire Update

2020 sears fire

Fire suppression efforts continue on the Sears Fire, currently, the fire is 14,241 acres with 15 percent containment.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from damaging Camp Creek recreation residences, but firefighters continue to patrol and monitor the area. Currently, suppression operations are focused on the northeast perimeter of the fire; south of Humboldt Mountain where the fire is most active. KV powerlines in the area remain impacted by smoke and lower Camp Creek powerlines have been de-energized. Firefighters responded at approximately 2:45 p.m. Friday to the Sears Fire located near Forest Service Road 24 and the Sears Kay Ranch. The fire is burning in grass and brush. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Currently, there are 12 engines, 4 hand crews, 1 Air Attack plane, 1 Very Large Air Tanker, 2 Large Air Tankers, 2 Single Engine Air Tankers and 4 helicopters assigned to the incident. Additional resources have been ordered and are responding.

An area closure order was implemented Saturday which includes Bartlett Dam Road, Seven Springs Road (NFSR 24), Horseshoe Lake, Bartlett Lake and Seven Springs recreation sites. The closure order shall remain in effect until further notice and the signed closure order, closure area map and available photos can be viewed and downloaded at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7218/. Any changes or lifting of the closure order will be posted on Inciweb and to the Tonto National Forest official Facebook page.

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been implemented through Oct. 27. For details about this TFR visit the Federal Aviation Administration website at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp. Flying a drone near a wildfire is breaking the law and potentially endangers firefighters and interferes with wildland fire aerial suppression operations. Interfering with firefighting operations can result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance.

Please avoid the area to allow suppression resources to travel safely to and throughout the incident. Click here for updates>


2020 Census - Deadline is October 5th

Census Options

Please remember to complete your 2020 Census by October 5.  You can respond online, by mail, or by phone.  Even a one-percent undercount in Arizona would represent a loss of $62 million in federal funding per year for an entire decade. 

Respond to the Census here>


Emergency Management

Emergency Management

Have you taken our Community Preparedness Survey?  The survey is short and plays an important role in how we serve you.  Your responses to 13 questions will help us gauge resident preparedness and improve our emergency messaging!

Take the Community Preparedness Survey here>


When Should I Get A Flu Shot?

Flu shot, vaccine, flu, shot

The CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October as it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu. 

Our three childhood immunization clinics around Maricopa County now have free flu shots for anyone 6 months through 18 years of age.  Please call ahead to ensure the vaccine is available.

More FAQ’s about the flu and flu vaccine >


Mortgage And Rental Assistance

CARES funding for homeless

If you are struggling financially because of COVID-19, one of the most pressing issues may be how to pay your mortgage or rent.  There is help available. 

The Arizona Department of Housing has compiled a list of resources for homeowners who need help with their mortgage payments.

Maricopa County’s COVID Crisis Rental Assistance Program has helped more than 1,000 households pay their rent over the past two months.  Our program is designed to speed along the process so that people get checks in the mail faster. 

Applicants will need to submit:

    • Evidence of financial hardship due to Covid-19
    • Applicant photo
    • Lease agreement
    • Total household income

Learn about our process (VIDEO) >

See qualifications and apply (WEBSITE) >


Utility Assistance

help family, families

People who are struggling to pay their utility bills have options.  Both SRP and APS are offering to help customers who are behind on payments, or worried about their next bill.  Maricopa County residents outside the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale may also qualify for assistance through our Human Services Department.  Learn more >


Unemployment Help

unemployment

Arizona’s unemployment rate is improving, but there are also tens of thousands of people who are still not working. It can be difficult to know what to do next when you’re out of work and not getting interviews or calls back.

While no one entity can solve this challenge, the Maricopa County Human Services Department does offer job assistance through our career centers.  You can get these services from the comfort of your home or in-person, by appointment.  Get started here. For information about applying for state unemployment benefits, visit arizonatogether.org


A Note About Schools

Schools

Maricopa County schools are required to report two or more cases of COVID-19 that don't live in the same household to MCDPH within 24 hours.  This is a very early sign of an outbreak in a school setting and allows Public Health to work closely with school nurses and administrators to identify additional cases and implement control measures.  Public Health works with the school to determine who was potentially exposed in the school so that every parent/guardian of a student who is exposed, as well as exposed staff members, are notified. An outbreak is considered over if there are no new cases identified within the school community for two incubation periods or 28 days. For more information see Maricopa County Public Health’s dashboard tab about K-12 schools.


Maricopa County Animal Care & Control

Dog License

An adoption event is being held at the Rio Salado location from Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4.  Although MCACC is not yet prepared to fully re-open this location, this event sponsored by the Bissell Pet Foundation is to help support the East Valley residents looking for a new addition to their family.  As more information is known about the full re-opening of the East shelter, we will continue to keep you apprised. 

Details: Adoption by Appointment Only

1:00pm-6:00pm (5:00pm is the last appointment)

Click here for more information>


Maricopa County Received 32 National Achievement Awards

NACo Medallion 2020

Maricopa County received 32 National Achievement Awards this year from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for programs that have a measurable positive impact on the community. 

This year’s award winners include programs addressing areas of community concern such as air quality, early education, homelessness, mental illness, and opioid addiction.  While this year’s awards do not address the county’s response to the COVID-19 emergency, Maricopa County did receive an award for its effective response to another infectious disease: Hepatitis A.

See a list of the NACo Achievement Awards listed here>


Honoring A Statesman

enrique

Enrique Melendez, Fountain Hills, was invited to speak last month at the dedication of the Raul H. Castro Fine Arts Academy in Phoenix. Castro was Arizona's first and only Hispanic governor, and also served as a Pima County judge, U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, El Salvador and Bolivia. Melendez, a native of El Salvador, is the Honorary Consul of the Republic of El Salvador and serves as executive director for the Consular Corps of Arizona.



Sincerely,
Steve Chucri, District 2
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
www.maricopa.gov/steve
602-506-7431

TRUSTED SOURCES

Nationally: CDC

State: ADHS

Locally: Maricopa County Public Health

QUESTIONS

All information requests related to Maricopa County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic should be directed to the Joint Information Center using the email address caomedia@maricopa.gov