LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – County officials continue to tally the costs of property damage that resulted from a late November windstorm, with the estimate now in the range of several millions dollars.
The storm, caused by the meeting of high and low pressure systems, hit on the county on Nov. 21 and Nov. 22.
The Northshore – particularly Nice – and Clearlake took the brunt of the storm. Homes and businesses were damaged, and there were dozens of falling trees that took down power lines, leaving some people out of power for as long as two days and sparking several wildland fires.
The National Weather Service said there were sustained winds averaging around 40 miles per hour, with the highest gust reported to be 78 miles per hour in the Cow Mountain area near Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.
Jill Ruzicka, the county's public information officer, said additional information on damage is continuing to come in on a daily basis.
She said the numbers the county has reported to the California Office of Emergency Services are for an operational area that covers all of Lake County, including the cities.
“Our initial assessment of privately owned buildings is estimated at approximately $5.3 million,” Ruzicka said. “We do not have an estimate of how much of this is covered by insurance.”
Ruzicka said the breakdown of damage to privately owned structures includes:
- Destroyed: one business and 20 outbuildings;
- Major damage: 19 residences and four businesses;
- Minor damage: 153 – combined total for residences, outbuildings and businesses;
- Affected: Approximately 29 more structures.
She added, “Our initial assessment of publicly owned buildings/facilities is estimated at approximately $650,000, with Holiday Harbor and Keeling Park suffering the most damage.”
Clearlake City Administrator Joan Phillipe said calls reporting damage are still coming in, and on Friday she didn't have a separate damage estimate available for the city.
She said she plans to present the Clearlake City Council with an update on the storm damage at its first meeting of the new year on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The Northshore Business Association continues to act as a clearinghouse for volunteers willing to help with storm damage cleanup and for those looking for assistance.
On the association Web site at http://www.northshorebusinessassociation.com/ there is a list of volunteers, information on how to volunteer or how to request assistance.
For more information on receiving help or volunteering, contact the association through its hotline at 707-739-6661.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.