Eleven atmospheric rivers have pounded the county for months, causing power outages and road closures. The snow has trapped people in their homes for weeks and caused damages that haven’t been measured yet. Last week, a local declaration of emergency was quickly followed by state and federal declarations, which means local jurisdictions can ask for reimbursements for their disaster recovery efforts.
In the meantime, though, individuals need help with seemingly small-scale problems that can easily become insurmountable as disasters pile up and they can’t get to work due to snow or impassable roads.
Megan Barber Allende is the CEO of the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, which has been helping people recover from disasters since the 2017 firestorms. The Community Foundation is also an underwriter for KZYX. Barber Allende thinks of her organization as a conduit between funders, other organizations, and people with specific, immediate needs.
Since January, the Foundation has distributed $105,000 of disaster fund money to organizations working on behalf of disaster survivors. The Foundation has also used $70,000 of the county’s PG&E settlement funds for Creekside Cabins residents, people on the South Coast who lost power and wages, and work with Harwood Hall and Bell Springs Fire in Laytonville…
