The Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority (RRA) Joint Powers Authority (JPA) will be hosting an El Niño Town Hall on possible impacts to Lake County this winter on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00 pm via Zoom.
District 3 Supervisor Eddie Crandell, who represents the Lake County Watershed Protection District as one of the Directors of the RRA, will give the introduction and welcome, then introduce the first speaker, Ryan Aylward, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Eureka, California, whose forecast area includes all of Lake County. After briefly explaining what an El Niño event is, Aylward will explain how this El Niño event is still increasing in severity and how that may impact Lake County, including Clear Lake, wildfire burn scars, and more.
Next, Leah Sautelet, Manager, Lake County Office of Emergency Services (OES), will provide an overview of preparedness actions the public can take and response activities that OES and other first responder agencies may take. Sautelet will also review the OES website for official information, Ready.LakeCountyCA.gov, including how to sign up for emergency alerts.
The final speaker for the El Niño Town Hall will be Dr. Pawan Upadhyay, Director of the Lake County Watershed Protection District and the Water Resources Department. Dr. Upadhyay also serves as the County Floodplain Administrator and will speak about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), mitigation projects including the Clover Creek Diversion, and other issues important to residents.
Throughout the Town Hall, John Vandervort, Senior Program Manager for Forest Health for the Lake County Resource Conservation District, who also provides administrative support to the RRA, will moderate and address questions.
Please Submit Questions for the Panelists Prior to the El Niño Town Hall
- To ensure the speakers can address as many questions from residents as possible during the 60-minute El Niño Town Hall, you can submit questions online at: https://forms.gle/nAPPzitvAxtjB5TE7
To Join the El Niño Town Hall Live
- The El Niño Town Hall will be live via Zoom at:
- https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82662375305
- +1 669 900 6833 US, Meeting ID: 826 6237 5305
- You can also watch the Town Hall in person at the Upper Lake Grange, 9355 Government Street, Upper Lake, CA 95485, where the Zoom meeting will be projected (No presenters will be there live).
- Once the Town Hall is concluded, it will be uploaded to the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@LakeCountyRRA
