HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Lisa Almaguer – BC Health Officer Issues Warning RE Habitation of Destroyed Property Schuman, Amy
From: Menchaca, Clarissa
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2019 9:11 AM
To: Schuman,Amy
Subject: FW: Health Officer Issues Hazard Advisory Warning Against Habitation of Destroyed
Property
Attachments: HealthOfficerHazardAdvisory.pdf
Correspondence.
Clcury w Meincilaca,
Associate Clerk of the Board
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.33081 F: 530.538.7120
Twitter 1 Facebook I YouTube l Pinterest
From: EOC PIO
Sent:Wednesday, November 21, 2018 11:06 AM
Subject: Health Officer Issues Hazard Advisory Warning Against Habitation of Destroyed Property
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2018
HEALTH OFFICER ISSUES HAZARD ADVISORY WARNING AGAINST
HABITATION OF DESTROYED PROPERTY
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Dr. Andy Miller, Butte County Health Officer, has issued a hazard advisory
strongly suggesting no habitation of destroyed property until property is declared clear of hazardous waste
and structural ash and debris by Butte County Environmental Health. There is evidence from recent fires
in California that homes and property destroyed by fire contain high and concerning levels of heavy
metals, lead, mercury, dioxin, arsenic, and other carcinogens. Some property may have the presence of
radio-active materials. Exposure to hazardous substances may lead to acute and chronic health effects,
and may cause long-term public health and environmental impacts.
As areas affected by the fire with destroyed homes and property are opened to residents, residents will
have limited access to visit property to collect recognizable belongings and mementoes that may have
survived the fire. Residents should review the Health and Safety Precaution for Re-entry packet, which
will be distributed at controlled re-entry checkpoints.
The County is working with State and Federal partners who will assess each property for hazardous
waste and remove those materials from each property. This process will take time. There is no estimate
as to how long it will take to assess and remove hazardous materials from each property at this time. After
the property has been cleared of hazardous waste, the property owner can sign-up for a State debris
removal program at no cost to the property owner.
1
###
Media Contact: Lisa Almaguer, PIO for Butte County Public Health (530) 966-1686
Media Note: Dr. Miller will be available for interviews after the 6pm press conference this evening.
Press Conference: Harvest Hall, Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. 11/21/18 at 6 pm.
2
Public Health Administration Cathy A. Raevsky, Director
Andy Miller, M.D., Health Officer
VVVPPor
Butte County 202 Mira Loma Drive T: 530.552.4000
buttecounty.net/publichealth
Oroville, California 95965 I F: 530.538.2164
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2018
HEALTH OFFICER ISSUES HAZARD ADVISORY WARNING AGAINST
HABITATION OF DESTROYED PROPERTY
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Dr. Andy Miller, Butte County Health Officer, has issued a hazard advisory
strongly suggesting no habitation of destroyed property until property is declared clear of hazardous
waste and structural ash and debris by Butte County Environmental Health. There is evidence from
recent fires in California that homes and property destroyed by fire contain high and concerning
levels of heavy metals, lead, mercury, dioxin, arsenic, and other carcinogens. Some property may
have the presence of radio-active materials. Exposure to hazardous substances may lead to acute
and chronic health effects, and may cause long-term public health and environmental impacts.
As areas affected by the fire with destroyed homes and property are opened to residents, residents
will have limited access to visit property to collect recognizable belongings and mementoes that may
have survived the fire. Residents should review the Health and Safety Precaution for Re-entry
packet, which will be distributed at controlled re-entry checkpoints.
The County is working with State and Federal partners who will assess each property for hazardous
waste and remove those materials from each property. This process will take time. There is no
estimate as to how long it will take to assess and remove hazardous materials from each property at
this time. After the property has been cleared of hazardous waste, the property owner can sign-up for
a State debris removal program at no cost to the property owner.
###
Media Contact: Lisa Almaguer, PIO for Butte County Public Health (530) 966-1686
Media Note: Dr. Miller will be available for interviews after the 6pm press conference this
evening. Press Conference: Harvest Hall, Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. 11/21/18 at 6 pm.