OES.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," HUNDREDS OF EASTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTY RESIDENTS REMAIN EVACUATED AS AUTHORITIES BRING THE SIX RIVERS LIGHTNING FIRE UNDER CONTROL.

WE'LL SPEAK WITH SHERIFF WILLIAM HONSAL TO GET AN UPDATE.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR RYAN HUTSON REPORTS ON MASSIVE PAYROLL ISSUES IMPACTING PROVIDENCE EMPLOYEES AS THOSE SAME EMPLOYEES TAKE TO THE PICKET LINE.

COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

FIRE SEASON STRIKES AGAIN.

THE COMMUNITY OF WILLOW CREEK IS UNDER A RASH OF LIGHTNING SPARKED BLAZES THAT HAVE TURNED INTO A COMPLEX FIRE WELL OVER 10,000 ACRES.

OES HAS BEEN EMPLOYED TO ALERT FOLKS, ARRANGE TEMPORARY SHELTERS AND FOOD AND MANAGE THE COMPLICATED JURISDICTIONS RESPONDING TO THIS.

WE TALKED TO THE SHERIFF AND RESPONSE FROM RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP THOSE IMPACTED.

SO FAR NO BUILDINGS ARE DESTROYED AND NO INJURIES REPORTED WHICH IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FIREFIGHTERS WORKING TO STAVE OFF THE FLAMES.

IT IS REASSURING TO SEE IN THESE MOST VITAL OF MOMENTS THE POLITICS AND VITRIOL RIGHTLY FADE INTO THE DISTANT BACKGROUND WHERE IT BELONGS.

WE ARE ALL SEEING HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAKING MORE DIFFICULT, FIRES RISK MORE AND MORE LIVES.

CONGRESS TODAY PASSED A NEW PACKAGE OF LANGUAGE THAT SEEKS TO ADDRESS IF CLIMATE CRISIS IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS AND ULTIMATELY SEEK CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES DROP 30% FROM TODAY'S LEVELS.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFF WILLIAM HONSAL DISCUSSED WAYS TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND PROPERTIES FROM THE ONSLAUGT OF THE SIX RIVERS FIRE.

I'M JAMES FAULK SPEAKING WITH WILLIAM HONSAL, THE SHERIFF OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SIFRS FIRE AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, BASICALLY.

FIRST OFF CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE OF WHERE THINGS STAND.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FIRES INVOLVED.

>> THE FIRES ARE IN TWO AREAS, ONE IS NORTH AND EAST OF WILLOW CREEK PROPER, THE OTHER IS SOUTH OF WILLOW CREEK.

BOTH THESE FIRES ARE BURNING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DANGER THROUGHOUT WILLOW CREEK AND IN THAT AREA SOUTH OF WILLOW CREEK.

SO WE HAVE IMMEDIATE EVACUATION ORDERS FROM CERTAIN AREAS SURROUNDING THESE FIRES AND WE HAVE ALSO SOME ADVISORIES SOUTH THERE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE HEED, TAKE WARNING THAT THEIR ZONE COULD BE ORDERED EVACUATED AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

AS WE KNOW, FIRE BEHAVIOR IS UNPREDICTABLE.

WE HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE ON THIS FIRE.

U.S. FOREST SYSTEM HAS THEIR MANAGEMENT TEAM, CAL FIRE.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHERE THIS FIRE MAY GO.

IT IS THEIR ESTIMATION THESE DIFFERENT ZONES THAT SURROUND WILLOW CREEK STILL NEED TO BE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, TRINITY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS THERE TRYING TO EVACUATE AND KEEP UP PATROLS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T GO IN THERE.

>> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOVED OUT?

>> I THINK I HEARD AN ESTIMATE 700 PEOPLE, 700 PLACES, PARCELS.

THAT IS A LARGE SECTION OF PEOPLE AND PARCELS THAT WERE ORDERED TO EVACUATE.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE HAVE AMERICAN RED CROSS THAT IS ESTABLISHED AN EVACUATION SHELTER IN WILLOW CREEK.

I THINK WE HAVE LESS THAN 30 PEOPLE THERE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

SO PEOPLE HAVE EITHER FOUND ANOTHER PLACE WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS, HAVE GONE TO THE COAST, GOTTEN A MOTEL.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SHELTERING IN PLACE AND IGNORING THE EVACUATION ORDER, WHICH IS OFTENTIMES A VERY RISKY MOVE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> ESPECIALLY NOW IN THE WOTTOMAN RIDGE AREA, SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE REFUSING OUR EVACUATION ORDERS DESPITE GOING THERE SEVERAL TIMES AND REMINDING THEM IT IS A VERY, VERY DIRE SITUATION THE AMOUNT OF FIRE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DO HEED THOSE WARNINGS.

>> IF PEOPLE GO AND THEY CHOOSE TO STAY ON THE COAST, SAY, AND GET A HOTEL ROOM, ARE THERE ANY SUBSIDIES OR ARE THEY ON THEIR OWN IF THEY CHOOSE THAT OPTION?

>> THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN FOR THAT.

PEOPLE CAN GO WHEREVER THEY WANT, A MOTEL, STAY WHEREVER THEY WANT.

THERE IS NO CURRENT SUBSIDIES FOR THAT.

AMERICAN RED CROSS, PAY IT FORWARD HUMBOLDT, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVACUATED.

THAT IS VERY, VERY NICE.

THAT IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HUMBOLDT COUNTY, IT IS A SMALL COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ARE READY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED AND RIGHT NOW SEVERAL FAMILIES ARE IN NEED.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES AS OF YET, NO ONE HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE FIRE?

>> CORRECT.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED BY THE FIRE AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY STRUCTURES LOST.

THAT IS A HUGE DEAL.

ONE THING WE CAN CONTRIBUTE THAT TO IS U.S. FIRE SERVICE, LOCAL FIRE DISTRICTS AND CAL FIRE JUMPING THIS SO QUICKLY.

THEY ESTABLISHED A LINE AROUND WILLOW CREEK AND SAWYER HEIGHTS.

IT WAS AMAZING I SAW THEY STOPPED THE FIRE JUST SHORT OF SOME OF THESE RESIDENCES.

THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

>> YOU WERE UP THERE HOW LONG AGO?

>> TWO DAYS AGO.

>> WHAT WAS THE WEATHER LIKE THEN AND IS IT BETTER OR WORSE, IN TERMS OF HEAT?

>> YEAH.

WE ARE SEEING THE FOG ALONG THE COAST HAS INFLUENCED THE FIRE WEATHER THERE IN WILLOW CREEK.

HUMIDITY LEVELS HAVE GONE UP AT NIGHT.

>> THAT IS GOOD, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS GOOD, REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

IT CONTRIBUTES TO LOW FIRE SPREAD.

WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS HIGH WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE NEED.

THE WEATHER HAS BEEN GOOD, EVERYONE THOUGH IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY WARM, LOW 80s AND 90s, IT IS ABLE TO COOL OFF AT NIGHT AND WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SOME HEADWAY ON SOME OF THESE FIRES.

AT THAT POINT OF TIME WE HAD A LOT OF INVERSION LAYER, SMOKE AND CLOUDS FILLING THE AIR SURROUNDING THE FIRE SO THERE WASN'T A LOT OF AIRCRAFT ABLE TO FLY DURING THE TIME I WAS THERE.

BUT IT HAS CLEARED UP SINCE THEN.

THE WIND HAS BLOWN THE SMOKE OUT AND SO HELICOPTERS AND AIRCRAFT ARE ABLE TO FLY AND DROP WATER OR RETARDANTS ON THOSE AREAS TO HELP SLOW THE FIRE.

>> WHAT IS, IF YOU CAN GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT THE OES' ROLE IS IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LOT OF PIECES ON THE BOARD AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS JUST ONE COMPONENT, BUT CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW THAT SYSTEM WORKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THE COUNTY.

OUR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO HELP COORDINATE RESOURCES AND RESPONSE FOR DISASTERS LIKE THIS, FOR MULTIAGENCY RESPONSES.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT GO AND FIGHT THE FIRE, BUT WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS.

THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ROLES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO IT.

NOT JUST OPERATIONS, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, PERSONNEL SUPPORT, FINANCIAL, AS WELL AS PUBLIC INFORMATION.

PUBLIC INFORMATION IS KEY IN THESE KINDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> SURE.

>> WE ARE COORDINATING ALL THOSE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTY STAYS INFORMED, THE CITIZENS STAY INFORMED.

WE ARE ABLE TO PUSH OUT ALERT NOTIFICATIONS AND EVACUATE ZONES AND GIVE A REAL TIME UPDATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING OUT THE HUMBOLDT ALERT.

PEOPLE WHO SUBSCRIBE, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE ABOUT 75,000 PEOPLE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY SIGNED UP.

IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY IN YOUR WORK, HOME, OR SOMEPLACE YOU FREQUENT, WHEN WE HIT ON THAT AREA, ALERT PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ADDRESS.

YOU WILL GET AN ALERT ON YOUR PHONE.

IF YOU HAVE A HOME PHONE, YOU GET A CALL TO YOUR PHONE.

YOU GET AN E-MAIL.

HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO GET ALERTED TO TALK ABOUT AND ADVISE YOU TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THAT AREA.

>> IS THERE AN ADDRESS TO GIVE PEOPLE?

>> HUMBOLDTSHERIFF.ORG.

ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT HUMBOLDT ALERT SYSTEM, PREPARING FOR DISASTERS, EARTHQUAKES, FIRES, FLOODS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT ZONE HAVEN.

ZONE HAVEN IS THE WEB-BASED SERVICE YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHERE YOUR EVACUATION ZONE IS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS AND THEN ALSO KNOW, WHAT WE CALL KNOW YOUR ZONE.

IT IS NOT JUST ALSO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND ASSOCIATED, BUT WHERE ARE YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES.

IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU TO LEAVE YOUR HOME, DO YOU KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO BE SAFE?

IN FIRE SEASON IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE RULES WE TELL YOU, GO THIS WAY NOT THAT WAY.

OR RALLY TO THIS LOCATION.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS SET UP IN THESE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD DEFINITELY USE.

WE ALWAYS PREPARE FOR THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

OUR CURRENT IS THE CASCADIAS.

THAT IS THE BIG ONE.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PREPARING FOR.

DESPITE WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTY, WHETHER YOU ARE AT WILDFIRE RISK OR NOT, WE ARE ALL AT RISK FOR EARTHQUAKES.

KNOW YOUR ZONE, ZONE HAVEN AS WELL AS HUMBOLDT ALERT TO GET AHELD OF YOU IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE LIGHTNING FIRE COMPLEX, IT STRADLES DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

HOW IS IT TO WORK WITH ANOTHER COUNTY AND DO YOU FIND THE DUTIES ARE SPLIT?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFLICTING JURISDICTIONS HERE.

THAT IS WHY THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES IS COORDINATING.

WE HAVE FEDERAL WITH FOREST SERVICE, STATE, CAL FIRE AND TWO COUNTIES AND A' SOVEREIGN NATION, HOOPA INDIAN TRIBE, THEIR RESERVATION IS ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THIS FIRE.

WE HAVE TO COORDINATE ALL THOSE SERVICES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT IN WILLOW CREEK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THIS SO THAT IS A PART OF OUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE ALL THE COOPERATORS GET TOGETHER, OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION THERE AS WELL AS CONTACTING ALL THE UTILITIES, WHETHER IT IS WATER, POWER, SEWER, YOU KNOW, EVERY ENTITY NEEDS TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THEY NEED TO ALSO RESPOND TO US.

PG&E, A VITAL PARTNER IN ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT POWER AND SHUTTING POWER OFF TO CERTAIN AREAS.

SO THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, WE COORDINATE ALL THOSE THINGS.

I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY BECAUSE HERE ON THE NORTH COAST, A LOT OF US GET ALONG WELL.

WE KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH EACH OTHER IN THESE EMERGENCIES.

THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, CAL FIRE, TRINITY COUNTY SHERIFF, TIM SAXON AND I TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THESE EVENTS.

WE ARE WILLING TO HELP AND AS THIS FIRE SPREADS MORE TO TRINITY COUNTY, THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT, WE WILL SEND OUR PEOPLE TO HELP THEM AND THEY WOULD DO THE SAME FOR US.

>> WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE NORMAL DUTIES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE?

DO YOU FIND YOU HAVE TO USE A LOT OF PERSON NIL AND IS IT IMPAKTSING SERVICE ELSEWHERE OR DO YOU HAVE JUST A FEW FOLKS WHO CAN MANAGE THAT TASK >> YES.

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE NORMALLY WE HAVE TWO DEPUTIES ASIPED IN THAT AREA 24 HOURS.

TWO DEPUTIES CAN BE BACK OVERWHELMED, SO WE HAVE TWO DEPUTIES AND A SERGEANT AS WELL AS A LIEUTENANT IN CHARGE OF MANAGING ALL OF THE OPERATIONS OUT THERE, ANOTHER SERGEANT DEDICATED AS WELL AS MY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGER, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NORMAL JOBS, THEY DO OTHER THINGS AND NOW THEY ARE TOTALLY DEDICATED TO THIS FIRE.

SO, YEAH, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

OTHER THINGS ARE NOT GETTING DONE BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSING ON THIS EMERGENCY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE THING SO WE ARE DEDICATING THOSE RESOURCES TO IT.

>> I HESITATE TO SAY IT, BUT IT IS ALMOST AS IF THERE IS A POSITIVE IN THESE KINDS OF EVENTS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO REHEARSE ALL OF THAT, LIKE SYNTHESIS, IF THE CASCADIA SUB DUCTION ZONE WOULD GIVE, YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING THESE PEOPLE AND ENTITIES TOGETHER.

>> YES.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE, PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUT OFFS.

THE KNOB FIRE AND THE AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE.

AS WELL AS THE PANDEMIC.

ALL OF THAT STUFF HAS PREPARED US FOR MANAGING THESE EMERGENCIES.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO COME, BUT I THINK WE ARE BUILDING OUR COMPETENCE AND TRUST.

WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY, WHEN WE SAY GO, THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON, WE WANT THEM TO TRUST WHAT WE SAY AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

U.S. FOREST SERVICE IS PROVIDING COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS WELL AS INTERACTIONS WITH SOME OF THE INFORMATION FLOW BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS TOTALLY INFORMED AND EVERYTHING WE DO HERE IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SUSTAIN WHAT WE HAVE ON THE NORTH COAST.

>> AT THIS POINT IS IT TOO EARLY TO SAY WHETHER, I MEAN, WILLOW CREEK PROPER IS GOING BE ABLE TO AVOID THE FIRE OR IS THE ACTUAL MUNICIPALITY AT RISK?

>> SO RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, THIS IS BASED UPON MY KNOWLEDGE AND BEING BASED ON THE FIRE, WILLOW CREEK WILL BE OKAY.

THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE LINE AROUND THE SUBDIVISION.

WE HOPE IT HOLDS.

WE BELIEVE IT WILL HOLD.

WE WANT TO SEE THAT CONTAINMENT LINE HOPEFULLY SOLID IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS TO MOVE PEOPLE BACK ON TO PATTERSON ROAD AND INTO THE SUBDIVISION.

I THINK WITH THE GREAT WORK THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS, THAT IS WHAT SAVED THE GREATER WILLOW CREEK AREA.

WE ARE HOPING, LIKE I SAID, THE CONTAINMENT LINES ARE SOLIDIFIED TO HAVE PEOPLE MOVE BACK SHORTLY.

>> THE ROADS ARE STILL OPEN?

299 IS OPEN?

>> 299 IS STILL OPEN.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME IT WILL TAKE A REAL DISASTER FOR 299 TO GET CLOSED.

THE WAY THE FIRE IS, IT IS GOING STAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, WE HOPE.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT IS BASED ON CONDITIONS.

IF WE HAD A RED FLAG COME N IT COULD BLOW THE FIRE ACROSS THE RIVER AND START SOMETHING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 299.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THESE REVEAL IN PEOPLE, DESPITE THE SECURITY YOU BUILD UP, THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANY TIME.

IF YOU WERE A LANDOWNER OR HOMEOWNER AND HAD SOME PROPERTY, HOW WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE TO PREPARE SO THEIR PROPERTY HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF BEING SAVED IN CASE OF A FIRE LIKE THIS?

>> RIGHT NOW WE STRESS IT EVERY YEAR.

PROVIDING THAT DEFENSIBLE SPACE IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, SO IMPORTANT.

AS THE FIRE CREWS GO UP IN THE HILLS AND LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT HOUSES AND WHERE THEY ARE SET UP, THEY SEE FIVE HOUSES IN A ROW AND SAYS HERE IS ONE THAT HAS DEFENSIBLE SPACE.

WE CAN DEFEND THIS HOUSE, THEY ARE GOING DO THAT.

THEY ARE GOING WRITE OFF OTHER HOUSES WITH TREES RIGHT UP AGAINST THE HOUSE BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.

THEY CAN'T SAVE IT IN TIME.

A LOT OF TIMES WE WANT TO KEEP LANDSCAPING AND TREES AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.

IF YOU LIVE IN A RURAL AREA SUBJECT TO FIRE DANGER, PLEASE CREATE THAT DEFENSIBLE SPACE AS WELL AS HAVE A PLAN.

IF THERE IS A WILDFIRE, PLEASE HAVE A PLAN TO GET OUT QUICKLY.

HAVE YOUR VALUABLES IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SNATCH THEM UP AND GO AS WELL AS IF YOU KNOW THERE IS A WILDFIRE OR POTENTIAL WILDFIRE, KEEP YOUR GATES OPEN.

THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS COME UP TO A PROPERTY WHERE THEY SEE THE PROPERTY AND HAVE TO GET OUT THEIR BOLT CUTTERS TO GET THE FIRE ENGINE THROUGH.

AS YOU ARE LEAVING, GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

SIGN UP FOR THOSE SERVICES, GET THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL, A GREAT WEBSITE TO GO IS READY.GOV.

>> OKAY.

>> READY.GOV HAS A TON OF INFORMATION PREPARING FOR ANY POTENTIAL DISASTER THAT COULD HIT YOUR HOME.

>> OKAY.

LAST QUESTION, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS SHOW OR READ IT IN THE PAPER AND THEY WANT DO SOMETHING TO HELP, WHERE WOULD YOU DIRECT THEM?

YOU MENTIONED RED CROSS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AMERICAN RED CROSS OPENED A SHELTER.

THEY ARE A GREAT SERVICE.

THEY ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE TO 30 PEOPLE.

PAY IT FORWARD HUMBOLDT IS A GREAT LOCAL SERVICE THAT GETS OUT THERE AND GETS GAS CARDS TO PEOPLE, GETS TANGIBLE GOODS TO PEOPLE.

SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

AND YOU CAN ALSO VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

WE WILL HAVE SOME STUFF UP THERE OF WHO YOU SUPPORT.

THOSE TWO ENTITIES WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH OTHER PEOPLE SUPPORTING THIS FIRE RESPONSE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO JUST DROP OFF THINGS.

PEOPLE GO, PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED, I'M GOING DROP OFF A BAG OF CLOTHES.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T NEED BAGS OF CLOTHES OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP, YOU CAN DROP OFF MONEY.

THAT HELPS TREMENDOUSLY AND THEY CAN PURCHASE THINGS THAT ARE TRULY NEEDED OR ASK THOSE KNOWN PROFITS HOW YOU CAN HELP.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> EMPLOYEES THIS WEEK TOOK TO THE PICKET LINE TO PROTEST PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE, OWNER OF ST. JOSEF JOSEPH AND REDWOOD HOSPITALS FOR PAYMENT AROUND THEIR WORK.

STALLED AND AT TIMES INACCURATE PAYCHECKS, AN ISSUE THAT HAS REPORTEDLY IMPACTED A LARGE NUMBER OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR RYAN HUTSON HAS THE STORY.

>> AS CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION UNION MEMBERS PICKETED OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL IN EUREKA YESTERDAY, I GOT FEEDBACK DIRECTLY FROM DISGRUNTLED STAFF.

HERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> MISSING HOURLY WAGES, MISSING TIME OFF PAGE, REDUCED PAGE WAGES, DIFFERENTIAL AND MISSING TIME OFF ACCRUAL.

TO CORRECT THESE PAYROLL ISSUES THE ADMINISTRATION ADVISED US TO OPEN HR REQUEST TICKETS AND TO NOTIFY OUR CORE LEADERS.

SO GUESS WHAT?

THE HR REQUEST TICKETS WERE IGNORED, IGNORED, IGNORED AND THEN RESOLVED, BUT THE RESOLUTION DID NOT COME WITH AN ADEQUATE FIX OR RETROACTIVE PAY.

DOESN'T GUESS WHAT?

OUR CORE LEADERS WHO WE WERE SAID TO TELL ABOUT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OR TRAINING TO FIX THE SYSTEMWIDE PAYROLL ERROR.

I DO HAVE A NURSE THAT WAS BEHIND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT WAS HAVING TROUBLE MEETING HER CRITICAL BILLS.

WE ASKED THEM TO MAKE AN OFF PAYROLL CYCLE PAYMENT.

THEY PROMISED US IT WOULD BE MADE ON TUESDAY.

WE WAITED.

WE WAITED AND THAT PAYMENT HAS STILL NOT BEEN MADE.

I THINK PROVIDENCE DOES NOT WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE OUTSOURCED HR PROGRAM OR HUMAN RESOURCES?

HOW IS THAT IMPACTING YOU GUYS BEING ABLE TO -- YOU SAID THE TICKETS ARE GETTING CLOSED OUT WITHOUT ANY REAL RESOLUTION, WHAT CAN BE DONE?

OKAY.

THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO MANY OF US THAT HAVE INTERACT WITH A SYSTEM THAT IS ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO NOT DO ANYTHING.

>> YEAH.

>> OUR FIRST THING THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO IS PUT IN SOME TYPE OF TICKET.

THESE TICKETS GO INTO A BLACK HOLE.

IF THEY ARE ANSWERED, THEY ARE OFTEN ANSWERED BY SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, THAT MAY HAVE JUST BEEN HIRED TO DEAL WITH THIS PAYROLL CRISIS AND NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OUR LOCAL CONTRACT.

>> I DID SEE THERE WAS AN HR MANAGER IS LEAVING TOMORROW.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

SO THAT PUTS YOU AT A FURTHER DISADVANTAGE?

>> CORRECT.

>> HOW MANY HR LOCAL -- [ HORNING HONKING ] >> HOW MANY LOCAL HR MANAGERS ARE THERE AFTER THAT PERSON LEAVES >> WE WILL HAVE ONE REMAINING HR FIELD REPRESENTIVE, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING SEND IN A FEW DAYS A WEEK A REGIONAL MANAGER.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CALL THESE PEOPLE.

I CAN AS A UNION REP PUT A GRIEVANCE.

BUT HAVING SOMEONE SAY, LOOK AT MY PAYCHECK.

IT LOOKS WEIRD.

THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> THERE IS NO WAY TO GET A PERSON TO LOOK AT A PAYCHECK LIKE THAT?

>> CORRECT.

>> WHY CAN'T THEY JUST CUT A NEW PAYCHECK HERE ON THE SPOT.

>> OH, YES.

GREAT QUESTION.

THE QUESTION IS WHY CAN THEY NOT CUT A PAYCHECK RIGHT HERE ON THE SPOT?

RIGHT?

SUPER QUESTION.

>> IT IS LEGALLY REQUIRED.

>> THEY CAN'T.

THEY HAVE A CHECK PRINTER IN THE HR.

WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE IS SOMEBODY THAT CAN RUN THE NUMBERS TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY OWE YOU.

SO ON OUR FIRST PAYCHECK WITH GENESIS ON JULY 5, THERE WERE MANY UNPAID, PEOPLE THAT DID NOT RECEIVE PAYCHECKS.

THEY WERE IN THE LOBBY CUTTING CHECKS THAT DAY.

IT IS POSSIBLE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY DON'T GET ANY MONEY IN THEIR PAYCHECK.

IN MY CASE INSTEAD OF READING IT AND GOING TO HR OR THE UNION, WHICH WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ST. JOE'S DOES NOT WANT TO WORK WITH A UNION AND THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD ISN'T AS STRONG AS IT USED TO BE AND MAKE PEOPLE WORK WITH UNIONS.

I WENT RIGHT TO MY MANAGER WITH MY DISCREPANCY AND I CAME BACK BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP.

THAT IS WHAT NURSES DO.

WE HELP PEOPLE AND THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

I WORK BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP: I DON'T JUST WORK FOR THE MONEY.

AND THEY KNOW THAT.

SO THAT IS WHY THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT NURSES, WE'RE SAPS.

OKAY?

WHAT CAN I SAY.

>> HUMBOLDT COUNTY FUNDS HELD BACK BY THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WERE RELEASED THIS WEEK DUE TO AN ACCOUNTING ERROR.

THE COUNTY SINGLE AUDIT PREVENTED THE COUNTY TO PAY BACK VARIOUS FUNDS ON WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SAID THE HOLD WAS LIFTED DUE TO IMPROVED PRACTICES IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE AUDITOR CONTROLS OFFICE.

THE NEW AUDITOR CONTROLLER RECENTLY TOOK OVER FOR THE DEFEATED INCOUPLE BANT KAREN PAZ DOMINGUEZ.

AFTER -- INCUMBENT OF CANCER PAZ DOMINGUEZ.

>> THE DOLOS ON BROADWAY WILL NOT BE DEMOLISHED, BUT MOVED.

DOLOS ARE HUGE CONCRETE STRUCTURES TO BREAK UP WAVES BEFORE THEY CAN PUMMEL SHORELINES.

EUREKA APPROVED IT IF A WAY TO MOVE THEM ISN'T IDENTIFIED.

THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD AND THE NEW OWNERS NEED THE DOLOS MOVED SO THEY CAN BUILD THEIR HOTEL.

THEY HELPED IDENTIFY WAYS TO MOVE THE DOLOS ON MONDAY, AUGUST 15.

COWENSWOMAN NATALIE AROYA SAID IT IS A PERFECT LOCATION FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR YEARS TO COME, SHE SAID.

THAT IS ALL OUR TIME THIS EVENING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

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