Headline Humboldt
Headline Humboldt: December 30th, 2022
Season 3 Episode 13 | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
County Public Health Officer Dr. Candy Stockton describes the deadly fentanyl pandemic.
County Public Health Officer Dr. Candy Stockton describes the deadly and accelerating fentanyl pandemic and its rising death toll on the North Coast. After a high-speed chase and a dangerous vehicular maneuver, authorities on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the killings, Russell Albers.
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Headline Humboldt is a local public television program presented by KEET
Headline Humboldt
Headline Humboldt: December 30th, 2022
Season 3 Episode 13 | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
County Public Health Officer Dr. Candy Stockton describes the deadly and accelerating fentanyl pandemic and its rising death toll on the North Coast. After a high-speed chase and a dangerous vehicular maneuver, authorities on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the killings, Russell Albers.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY HAVE SKYROCKETED IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO A NEW SYNTHETIC OPIATE THAT HAS DOMINATED THE DRUG MARKET.
FENTANYL IS IN THE SUPPLY WITH A SMALL ENOUGH TO KILL.
A RIO DELL RESIDENT WHOSE HOUSE WAS YELLOW TAGGED.
SHE IS LIVING WITH FAMILY UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO COME BACK HOME.
FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, I'M JAMES FAULK.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES IN MY ACTIVE ADDICTION TO OPIATES I CAME CLOSE TO OVERDOZING, A STRONGER PILL OR MORE SUPPLY MY FATE COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.
I KNOW FOLKS WHO DID SUH COME AND WERE SAVED BY A LAST-MINUTE DOSE OF NARCAN IF THEY WERE SAVED AT ALL.
NOW AN ADDICTION TO THIS ADDTIVE FENTANYL IS MORE DIFFICULT TO FIGHT THAN AN ADDICTION TO HEROIN.
NARCAN AND OTHER DRUGS HAVE SAVED LIVES ARE LESS EFFECTIVE STABILIZING FOLKS ON FENTANYL.
THEY ARE FINDING IT AS AN ADDTIVE TO MAKE IT CHEAPER AND MORE ADDICTIVE.
FOLKS ARE DYING TOO OFTEN OF A DRUG THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE TAKING.
IN A RECENT CONVERSATION COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER CANDY STOCKTON DESCRIBED HOW PROLIFIC THE DRUG HAS BECOME AND HOW DEADLY.
>> BROADLY SPEAKING, THERE ARE A FEW DRUGS WHO WORK ON THE RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN HUMAN BEINGS USE TO RELIEVE PAIN.
THAT IS HOW THEY ARE USED IN A MEDICAL SETTING AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAL SETTING.
WE CALL THEM OPIOIDS, HYDROCODON, OXYCODONE, MORPHINE, DRUGS THAT ARE TYPICALLY ILLICIT LIKE HEROIN, IT ALL AFFECTS THE SAME RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN.
FENTANYL IS A DRUG IN THAT SAME FAMILY.
IT IS AN OPIOID DRUG, BUT ITS BINDING AFFINITY IS A LOT STRONGER THAN MOST OF THE OTHER OPIOIDS ARE.
IT BASICALLY GIVES, IF YOU WILL, A HARDER AND FASTER HIGH.
THE SAME RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN THAT FEEL EUPHORIA OR PAIN RELEASE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN THEY TAKE AN OPIOID.
YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE A DRUG THAT HITS THOSE RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN AND ALLEVIATES PAIN REALLY HARD, REALLY FAST, THAT IS AN ATTRACTIVE DRUG TO PEOPLE LOOKING FOR PAIN RELIEF OR ESCAPE FROM A PAINFUL SITUATION.
BUT WHEN IT HITS THOSE RECEPTORS IT IS HARD AND FAST HITTING THOSE RECEPTORS THAT TELL YOUR BRAIN TO BREATHE AND IT IS BLOCKING ACTION AT THAT PART OF THE RECEPTOR.
SO IT IS GETTING RID OF THE STIMULUS TO BREATHE AND IT ALSO DOES THAT HARDER AND FASTER THAN MOST OTHER OPIOIDS DO.
SO YOU HAVE THIS DRUG THAT HAS BECOME REALLY ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ACCLIMATED TO OTHER DRUGS BECAUSE IT GIVES THE STRONG DRUG EFFECT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND ITS MAGNITUDES IN POWER MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHER OPIOIDS BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME LEVEL OF EFFECT ON THE BRAIN THAT TELL US US TO LEAVE.
IT IS A HIGH RISK OF ACCIDENTAL OVERDOESZ.
THAT IS TRUE, ACTUALLY, IF YOU ARE USING IT AS A PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVE AGENT IN HOSPICE CARE FOR PARTIALS WHO ARE TERMLY ILL WITH PAINFUL CANCERS.
IT IS TRUE WHEN IT IS USED RECREATIONALLY BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THEY ARE USING IT OR THINKS THEY ARE USING SOMETHING ELSE, HEROIN OR VICODIN OR SOMETHING THEY BOUGHT OFF THE STREET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT IS A VERY POTENT DRUG BOTH IN TERMS OF HAVING THE EFFECTS WE WOULD WANT IT TO HAVE AND ALSO IN TERMS OF BEING DANGEROUS.
>> THIS IS A TYPICALLY A PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG, BUT THERE, APPARENTLY, OBVIOUSLY, HAS BEEN A WAY FOR ILLICIT DRUG MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE IT IN A LAB AND SHIP IT FROM DOWN SOUTH OR WHEREVER IT IS COMING FROM.
I MEAN, THAT SEEMS LIKE IT IS PRESENTING A DOUBLE RISK BECAUSE IT COULD MAKE IT MORE POTENT AND EXCITE CONSUMERS THAT WAY AND SO, THEREFORE, CAN BE MORE ATTRACTIVE PRODUCT.
AND IT ALSO HAS THIS HEALTH RISK YOU MENTIONED.
>> IT IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO PRODUCE ILLICITLY.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF FENTANYL IS NOT REDIRECTED PRESCRIPTION FENTANYL.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE OF THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS FENTANYL PRODUCED AND BROUGHT IN THE COUNTRY ILLICITLY.
IT IS NOT BEING MADE BY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
>> YEAH.
>> TEN, 15 YEARS AGO, THAT WAS MOSTLY COMING FROM CHINA, BUT IT IS QUITE EASY TO MANUFACTURE AND SUCH A TINY AMOUNT OF IT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED TO GET A DRUG EFFECT, THAT ACTUALLY HAS BECOME MORE THE STANDARD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS IS MEXICO AND TRANSPORTED ACROSS THE BORDER AND MOVING UP THE COUNTRY THAT WAY.
IT IS SO COMPACT.
JUST A TINY AMOUNT IS NEEDED FOR A DRUG EFFECT, IT IS LOGISTICALLY EASIER TO SMUGGLE THAN SAY A TRUCK FULL OF HEROIN.
>> YEAH.
>> THE EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF FENTANYL CAN FIT INSIDE OF AN ENVELOPE.
>> YEAH.
IN A COUNTRY THAT IS ALREADY HEAVILY ADDICTED TO THE OPIATES, IT IS A PERFECT STORM, UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE INCREASE, WOULD YOU SAY?
IN TERMS OF WE HAVE ALREADY HAD AN EXISTING OPIATE PROBLEM.
ARE WE SEEING 50 MORE DEATHS A YEAR?
HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED THE CASUALTY RATES, I GUESS?
>> SO, WE HAVE JUST PASSED -- IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY WE JUST PASSED RIGHT AROUND 50 DEATHS FOR FENTANYL THIS YEAR.
OUR REPORT AND TOXICOLOGY TEST IS DONE FOR THE CORONER'S OFFICE THERE IS A DELAY FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.
IT TAKES AFTER SOMEONE DIES TO CONFIRM WHAT THE DRUG IS THEY OVERDOSED.
THAT IS THE NUMBER OF CONFIRMED DEATHS WE HAVE FINALIZED DEATHS AS OF FOUR TO SIX WEEKS AGO BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS THAT FAR BEHIND WAITING FOR TESTING.
WE ESTIMATE 70 TO 80 DEATHS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY THIS YEAR TO FENTANYL.
SADLY, HISTORICALLY WE RUN 20 TO 30 OVERDOSE DEATHS OF A VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES.
>> WOW.
>> THIS IS GOING BE SIGNATURE CONTACTUALLY -- SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER >> THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> FAMILIES WILL BE MISSING CHILDREN, PARENTS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS DUE TO FENTANYL.
>> WATCHING THE STORY AND BEING INVOLVED IN MY OWN RECOVERY, TWO THINGS CAN HELP, NARCAN THAT CAN JOLT PEOPLE INTO WITHDRAWAL AND OUT OF ACUTE INTOXICATION AND TREATMENT OPTIONS.
ONE THING I SAW IN THE ARTICLE WAS THIS MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR -- TO WORK.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THAT COMPLICATES THINGS?
>> YEAH.
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN USING AND ABUSING SUBSTANCES REGULARLY.
I THINK MANY OF US HAVE THE IMPRESSION THEY ARE DOING IT TO GET HIGH.
BY THE TIME YOU ARE USING DRUGS, YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO GET HIGH BUT OUT OF THE SICK YOU FEEL IN WITHDRAWAL.
YOU NEED THE DRUG IN YOUR SYSTEM JUST NOT TO FEEL SICK AT THAT POINT.
THAT MEANS PEOPLE ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS FEEL A BIG PART OF EVERY DAY FEELING CRAPPY AND TRYING TO FIND A DRUG.
WHEN YOU PUT PEOPLE ON A DRUG TO KEEP THEIR DOPAMINE LEVELS BETTER, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO STICK WITH TREATMENT.
THE PROBLEM WITH FENTANYL IN THAT SETTING IS FENTANYL HAS A BETTER BINDING AFFINITY FOR THE RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN THAN METHADONE.
IF YOU USE FENTANYL ON TOP, IT OVERCOMES THE METHADONE IN OUR SYSTEM, SO IT JUST MAKES IT A LOT HARDER TO GET SOMEONE TO A STEADY LEVEL WHERE THEY ARE NOT COMING IN AND OUT OF WITHDRAWAL.
IT DOESN'T OVERTAKE THE RECEPTORS WE PUT METHADONE OR OTHER DRUGS ON TO TREAT.
THAT IS TRICKY.
THE OTHER PIECE IS THAT ONE OF THE LOVELY THINGS ABOUT NARCAN OR NALOXONE, IT HAS A STRONG AFFINITY TO THE RECEPTORS.
IT WILL BUMP OFF THE OTHER DRUG SO THE DRUG CAN'T GET BACK TO THEM IN A WHILE.
HOW WE RESERS AN OVERDOSE, NARCAN BUMPS THOSE HEROIN OR MORPHINE OR OTHER MOLECULES OFF THE RECEPTOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, FENTANYL'S BINDING ABILITY IS AS STRONG AZNARCAN.
IT TAKES MORE NARCAN TO REVERSE A FENTANYL OVERDOSE THAN OTHER OPIOIDS.
THOSE ARE HELPFUL TO TREATMENT, BUT THEY ARE NOT AS ALMOST MAGICAL AS THEY ARE WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH MORE TRADITIONAL OPIOIDS.
NARCAN WILL REVERSE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE, IT IS LIKE A MAGIC TRICK, IT IS SO FAST.
ANYONE IN HEROIN ADDICTION OR GETTING STABILIZE ON METHADONE IN THE FIRST TIME OF MONTHS OR YEARS FEEL LIKE A HALFWAY NORMAL PERSON AGAIN THAT IS SO POWERFUL TO MAKE THEM WANT TO STICK WITH TREATMENT BECAUSE TREATMENT IS A LONG-TERM THING THAT IS NEEDED FOR MOST PEOPLE.
WITH FENTANYL IT IS A LOT HARDER TO GET TO THAT STATE WHERE THEY KNOW THEY ARE FEELING BETTER AND ENGAGED TO STICK WITH TREATMENT.
WE ARE WORKING ON ADAPTING OUR PROTOCOLS FOR TREATMENT AND FOR NARCAN TO ADDRESS THE NEWER DRUG EFFECTS THAT WE ARE SEEING WITH FENTANYL >> YEAH.
IT IS TAKING A SITUATION THAT WAS ALREADY TRAGICALLY BAD AND MADE IT THAT MUCH MORE COMPLICATED AND DEADLY WHICH IS HARD TO EVEN REALLY CONSIDER IN MY MIND.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID IN THE ARTICLE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A REALLY GOOD QUOTE, WAS THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC OF DESPAIR, POVERTY, LACK OF OPPORTUNITY, OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THAT IS DRIVING PEOPLE TO TURN TO SUBSTANCES.
I MEAN, DO YOU THINK THAT, I MEAN, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IT SEEMS LIKE IN SOME WAYS AND NOT IN OTHERS.
DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THESE ISSUES AND ADDICTIONS AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE, IF IT WERE TRUE?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS THERE IS ALWAYS MORE THAN WE CAN DO IN ANYTHING THAN WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
I AM REALLY HOPEFUL.
SO, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED REALLY GETTING INVOLVED IN ADDICTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE, WHAT I WAS BEING TAUGHT AT THAT TIME AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH WAS SO WRONG.
THE IDEA THAT THE DRUG WAS THE PROBLEM, THAT THE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE ON THE DRUG IS THE ONLY ISSUE, IF YOU BREAK THAT YOU CAN RESET THE HABIT IN PEOPLE'S BRAINS IN A FEW MONTH AND MAGIC, EVERYBODY IS CURED.
ON ONE HAND IT IS DISCOURAGING TO SEE THE RATES OF DEATH GO UP AND UP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WHILE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT IT IS THAT TRIGGERS PEOPLE TO TURN TO SUBSTANCE USE AS A COPING MECHANISM AND HOW THAT LEADS TO ADDICTION AND HOW ADDICTION BECOMES A CHRONIC DISEASE THAT CHANGES THE CHEMICAL RECEPTORS AND THE NEUROTRANSMITTER PROCESS THAT HAPPENS IN OUR BRAIN AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TREATMENT, RIGHT?
SO IF I TALK TO YOU ABOUT DIABETES AND I EXPLAIN YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO, DIET, EXERCISE, MEDICATION, LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND MONITORING FOR COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES AND YOU ARE GOING LIVE WITH DIABETES, TO SOME DEGREE, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, BUT WITH PROPER TREATMENT WE CAN HELP THE IMPACT OF THAT DISEASE ON YOUR LIFE AND YOU CAN LIVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY, HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTIVE LIFE, EVERYBODY GOES, YEAH, UH-HUH.
WE ACCEPT THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE THE CASE.
WE KNOW ONCE YOU GET DIABETES YOU NEED MONITORING FOR CERTAIN THINGS, YOU HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING BLINDNESS AND HEART DISEASE.
WE KNOW WHAT TO DO TO TREAT YOU.
NOWHERE IN THIS PROCESS WOULD WE SAY IF YOU JUST SAY NO TO THOSE CANDY BARS YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DIABETES AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE OKAY.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T EAT THE CANDY BARS, YOU STILL HAVE DIABETES.
WE ARE STARTING TO BRING THAT SAME KNOWLEDGE BASE WE HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS IN MEDICINE TREATING CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND APPLY THAT TO PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND UNDERSTANDING IT IS NOT ABOUT JUST SAY NO OR ABSTINENCE BASED TREATMENT.
IT WORKS WELL FOR SOME PEOPLE.
WITH ALL CHRONIC DISEASES WE HAVE A RANGE OF TREATMENT TO BRING TO PLAY TO HELP MINIMIZE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISEASE TO LIVE A HIGH QUALITY, LOW SUFFERING LIFE IN SPITE OF HAVING A DISEASE BECAUSE OF THE HUNDREDS OF INSPIRED, SOCIAL, POLITICAL FACTORS THAT GO INTO THE TWOMT OF CHRONIC DISEASES.
I THINK IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.
SAD BECAUSE WE WILL LOSE SO MANY PEOPLE WHILE WE ARE CHANGING THE STRUCTURES THAT HELP US HELP PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
BUT EXCITING BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HAVING REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO BRING PEOPLE TO TREATMENT, TO IMPROVE SOMEBODY'S HEALTH IF THEY HAVE A CHRONIC DISEASE AND HELP THEM LIVE A BETTER LIFE?
HOW DO WE START TALKING ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS DIFFERENTLY SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS OR SOMETHING THAT IS SHAMEFUL OR SOMETHING THAT IS A MATTER OF YOU NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH, BUT LOOK AT THEM AS THESE ARE COMPLEX, AFFECTED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
I'M HOPEFUL FOR WHAT THE NEXT TWO DECADES WILL BRING IN TERMS OF CHANGES OF HOW WE STRUCTURE INTERVENTIONS, WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO HELP THEM HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE SO THERE IS LESS DRIVE TO TURN TO SUBSTANCES TO COPE WITH THOSE SITUATIONS.
>> THAT WAS A GREAT INTERVIEW AND GREAT SERIES OF COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER CANDY STOCKTON.
QUICKLY, I HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THAT SUBJECT AND TOPIC.
ONE OF THE THINGS SHE HAS MENTIONED AND HAS COME TO THE FORE IN RECENT YEARS IS THE ROLE THAT TRAUMA PLAYS IN ADDICTION.
OFTEN IT IS A LIFE TIME OF TRAUMA OR A CHILDHOOD FILLED WITH TRAUMA THAT GIVES A PERSON THE, I GUESS, THE PREREQUISITES OF A TENDENCY TO WANT TO BECOME AN ADDICT BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN LEFT TO SELF-MEDICATE THEIR CONDITIONS.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS RECOVERED, BEEN AN ADDICT AND RECOVERED, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OFF WHATEVER DRUG OR INTOXICANT THEY FIND THEMSELVES ADDICTED TO, THERE IS HOPE.
IT TAKES TIME.
IT TAKES WORK.
GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO FAIL.
IT REQUIRES WORK AND REQUIRES FORGIVENESS OF YOURSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN TO FORGIVE YOU AS WELL AND MORE OF AN APPROACH OF EMPATHY AROUND THE ENTIRE TOPIC.
ANYWAY, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.
>> WELCOME BACK.
A LONG TIME PERCENTAGE FRIEND OF MINE WAS AMONG RIO DELL RESIDENTS DEEMED TEMPORARY UNSAFE TO OCCUPY BECAUSE OF THE RECENT 6.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE.
MAGGIE HANSON WAS AT HOME WITH BOTH OF HER KIDS WHEN THE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK.
IT WAS GIVEN A YELLOW TAG.
SHE SPOKE US WITH THIS WEEK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AND HOW SHE IS COPING WITH THE DISASTER.
>> IT DEFINITELY WOKE US UP FAST BECAUSE IT WAS A JOLT.
I DID THINK, I FELL ON THE GROUND, IT WASN'T THE SMARTEST THING.
I COULDN'T TELL IF IT THAT STRONG OR BEING IN A TRAILER.
>> IT IS LIGHTER FOR ONE THING.
>> AFTER WHEN I SAW THE 6.4, I WAS LIKE, NO WAY IT WAS A 6.4.
IT WAS WAY STRONGER THAN A 6.4.
I'M LIVING IN A TRAILER SO IT BECAME MISALIGNED ON THE PIERS.
AS FAR AS THINGS FALLING DOWN ON THE INSIDE, IT IS NOT AS BAD AS OTHER EARTHQUAKES, BUT IT MADE THINGS SHIFT.
>> IS IT A PROBLEM OR THE POWER OF THE EARTHQUAKE?
>> I THINK IT WAS THE EARTHQUAKE.
ON OUR STREET IT IS MOSTLY TRAILERS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED.
>> INTERESTING.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING -- YOU WERE YELLOW TAGGED NOT RED TAGGED.
>> THAT MEANS WE CAN GO IN AND GET THINGS OUT OF THERE WHICH IS VERY USEFUL IF WE NEED TO.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THERE.
>> YOU CAN'T STAY THERE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE OR WHATEVER?
>> RIGHT.
YEP.
>> HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE?
HAVE THEY TALKED TO YOU OR LEFT IN THE DARK?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.
I'M A RENTER SO I ASSUME THEY ARE IN CONTACT WITH MY LANDLORD AND MY LANDLORD HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND HAVE GOTTEN SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS MOVED BACK IN.
MY PARENTS LIVE CLOSE SO WE ARE LIVING WITH OUR PARENTS.
>> IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR PARENTS, WHAT OPS -- OPTIONS WOULD YOU?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THEY ARE ACTIVATED MONEY TO PEOPLE TO GET HOTELS.
>> SURE.
HOW HAVE YOUR KIDS HANDLED IT.
YOU HAVE TWO KIDS.
>> YES.
>> THEY BOTH LIVE AT HOME WITH YOU.
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR THEM?
>> THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT, ACTUALLY, A LOT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT THEY WOULD REACT.
IT IS DEFINITELY, IT IS STRESSFUL.
>> OF COURSE.
>> BUT, YEAH.
THEY KIND OF -- MY OLDEST JUMPED IN RIGHT AWAY AND WENT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRYING TO HELP OUT PEOPLE HE KNEW WERE NOT AS PHYSICALLY ABLE AS US.
SO HE HAS BEEN KEEPING HIMSELF BUSY.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
YEAH.
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THIS EARTHQUAKE THAT WILL BETTER PREPARE YOU FOR EVENTS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE?
>> I DEFINITELY AM PREPARED, I HAVE MY FLASHLIGHTS CHARGED UP AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS A LUCK THING, I THINK, SO -- >> YEAH.
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ULTIMATELY GOING BE ABLE TO MOVE BACK INTO YOUR TRAILER OR SOMETHING YOU DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO?
>> YES.
WE HAVE HEARD FOR HEARTENING THINGS.
SO I THINK WE WILL BE BACK.
I'M NOT SURE WHEN.
I DON'T KNOW THE TIMELINE.
>> WHAT IS THE MOOD LIKE IN RIO DELL?
ARE THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR POSITION?
>> I HAVE HEARD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN MY POSITION.
I HAVE SEEN HOUSES RED TAGGED SO THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE SAME POSITION I'M IN.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IS PULLING TOGETHER REALLY WELL.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN GREAT.
AND HANDING OUT WATER AND FOOD AND PEOPLE JUST INDIVIDUALLY HELPING EACH OTHER OUT AS FAMILIES.
>> SPEAKING OF COMING TOGETHER TO HELP, STATE AND COUNTY EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE THE RESPONSES AND OFFER A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR SERVICES ARE OPERABLE WITH AN EVENT SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY TO CONNECT VICTIMS WITH AID.
THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OPENED A LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER TO AID COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
THE CENTER WAS HELD TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW AT MONUMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 95 CENTER STREET FROM 9:00 TO 5:00.
IT WILL PROVIDE FLFGS PARTICIPATING LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE.
RESIDENTS CAN REGISTER FOR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
REPETITIVES FROM DHHS SOCIAL SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, FOOD FOR PEOPLE, PAY IT FORWARD HUMBOLDT, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE ON DISASTER.
ON WEDNESDAY A SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE IN PINE HILL NEAR EUREKA WAS ARRESTED.
RUSSELL ALBERS WAS SEEN LEAVING THE AREA OF McKINLEYVILLE IN A GRAY TOYOTA.
DEPUTIES PURSUED AND FLIPPED AROUND BACK NORTH ON THE SAME HIGHWAY IN SPEEDS OF EXCESS OF 100 MILES AN HOUR.
IT WENT THROUGH TRINIDAD AND ON TO SCENIC DRIVE AND IT ENDED WITH THE SUSPECT DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PRA TOLL ASSISTING AND PERFORMED A MANEUVER THAT DROVE HIM OFF THE ROAD AND THE CHASE CONTINUED ON THE ROAD'S SHOULDER.
A DEPUTY RAMMED THE VEHICLE.
ALBERS IS ARRESTED ON MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT.
HE IS ACCUSEDED OF KILLING TWO DOMESTIC PARTNERS WITH A 4-YEAR-OLD CHILD.
DEPUTIES WERE DISPATCHED TO THE 4000 BLOCK TO CRANE STREET.
THEY REPORTED SCREAMING AND YELLING AND A SHOOTING HAD JUST TAKEN PLACE.
GARCIA AND PADDOCK WERE FOUND DEAD WHILE AN ADULT WOMAN YET UNIDENTIFIED WAS TAKEN TO AN AREA HOSPITAL FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY.
ANOTHER VICTIM, ALSO AN ADULT WOMAN, WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY THE SUSPECT AND LATER TREATED FOR HER WOUNDS.
THE 4-YEAR-OLD CHILD WAS UNARMED AND PLACED WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
THE CASE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
NEW YEAR'S IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, SO, PLEASE, BE SAFE.
DON'T GO OUT UNLESS YOU HAVE A RIDE HOME AND CAN DO SO SAFELY AND BE JUDICIOUS IN LAYING OUT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.
WE ALL LIKE TO FAIL AND THAT IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO START A YEAR.
WHY TRY.
STAY TUNED.
STAY INFORMED.
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