Sheriff William Honsal has declared a local emergency due to the winter storm, which has created life-threatening conditions in some areas and caused damaged across the county.

In a Facebook announcement last night, the sheriff’s office said the declaration “allows for the county to seek state and federal reimbursement for damage repairs and other associated impacts. The county of Humboldt is requesting all available response and recovery assistance from the State of California as deemed appropriate by Governor Newsom, including funding under the California Disaster Assistance Act and the federal Stafford Act.”

Emergency work along state routes 299 and 96 to clear  snow, downed trees and power lines has both roadways still closed, according to Caltrans' QuickMap site around 9 a.m. State Route 299 is shuttered from Buckley Road to State Route 96, which is closed to post mile 4.6. State Route 299 is also closed from Burnt Ranch to 4.4 miles east of Salyer.

The Westhaven Drive underpass is also closed due to emergency work, according to Caltrans, and the county reports Coffee Creek Road in Ferndale is closed due to flooding.

Anyone whose home or business suffered storm-related damage is asked to fill out a Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services form, which could be found here.

Anyone trapped in their home or vehicle and who has medical or other emergency needs that require assistance can contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.

Temporary shelters have been set up in Hoopa and Willow Creek.  In Hoopa, the shelter is at Neighborhood Facilities, 11860 State Route 96.