C O U N T Y
CONNECTION A digital magazine for and about County of Orange employees JULY/AUGUST 2021
CONTENTS 3
Frankly Speaking
4
Employee Profile Jeovany Gomez - OC Waste & Recycling
6
County Administration North Topping Off Ceremony Feature
12
Redistricting 2021 Feature
13
2022 Open Enrollment is Coming Feature
10
Around the County News and happenings from the County of Orange departments and agencies
18
OC History The Irvine Ranch, 1930s-1950s
20
Cybersecurity Corner Password and Account Safety
21
Safety Spotlight April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
24
Service Awards July 2021 and August 2021
COVER PHOTO: Beam raising at the new County Administration North building.
2
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
a message from CEO Frank Kim
FRANK KIM
As the summer comes to a close with the upcoming Labor Day holiday, we have much to look forward to this fall. Children are heading back to school, cooler temperatures, football and of course the holidays. It’s also time for many County staff to start to consider open enrollment for their healthcare plans which start on October 13. For more information and to do your research on which plan is best for you and your loved ones, check out page nine for more information. For County departments in and around the Civic Center, we’ve experienced quite a bit of construction these past few months. In fact, we’re getting closer to seeing the County Administration North (CAN) building become a reality as we celebrated the topping off of CAN a few weeks ago. Photos on this ceremony may be found on page six. County staff are naturally civic-minded and this fall has several activities that staff would like to keep in mind. On September 14 we have an election that our Registrar of Voters is responsible for conducting. More information about this election may be found on page 16. Every 10 years the County redraws the district lines for our County Supervisors. This process is called redistricting and it’s happening now. For more information about the County’s redistricting process, go to page eight. Again, thank you to the County family for continuing to work so diligently and taking the proper precautions related to COVID-19. Each week we’re sending out weekly messaging regarding vaccination and testing schedules for County employees. Keep in mind this information is subject to change, but more information may be found on here.
Frank Kim
J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
3
EMPLOYEE PROFILE
JEOVANY GOMEZ JOB TITLE: Materials Regulations Specialist YEARS WITH THE COUNTY: 15
PLEASE SEND PROFILE SUBJECTS FOR COUNTY CONNECTION!
Do you know someone who would make a good employee profile? We’re looking for staff-level employees who love their job and carry the flag with enthusiasm both for their agency and the County as a whole. Send submissions to jb.fearns@ocgov.com.
4
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
DEPARTMENT: OC Waste & Recycling BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Knowing my work makes the environment better for my children’s future
Jeovany Gomez loves learning. Since he joined OC Waste & Recycling in August 2003, he’s been able to fulfill his love of learning by acquiring a multitude of new skills as he moved up through the ranks to become a materials regulations specialist. At 19 years old, Jeovany joined the County as a utility driver, picking up and dropping off mail and packages at the County’s landfills, as well as some light duty maintenance. From there, he promoted to an office technician position, helping reception in taking phone calls and providing support for office services. Moving forward, he joined the budget and finance team as a staff assistant, handling educational reimbursements, working with the County Procurement Office and processing purchases. He also worked on the financial aspects of the annual United Way Dine at the Dump event, which invited local dignitaries to support charitable causes. At one point in Jeovany’s OCWR journey, then-Safety Officer Earl Gaugler suggested he get into a hazardous materials position. “He told me which classes to take and where to take them,” said Jeovany, who took the advice and enrolled at Rio Hondo College in Whittier. Today, as a materials regulations specialist, he is in constant communication with the public, overseeing the County’s four Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection centers. He visits each site – in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, San Juan Capistrano and Irvine – on a weekly basis, checking the manifest for each shipment of items headed to recycling facilities and providing support to staff when questionable items arrive. Some residents try to dispose of boats and infested fruit trees that the HHWs can’t take. Jeovany and his colleagues maintain close working relationships with state agencies like the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Consumer Affairs to assist with those items. Jeovany also works with OC Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health Services, which inspects all the HHW facilities. The HHWs do accept items such as householder cleaners – think Windex or Scrubbing Bubbles – and automotive products – motor oil, antifreeze, as well as light bulbs, batteries and even sharps, such as needles used to inject insulin. Residents can also bring in their electronics to be recycled. “We can take anything with a circuit board,” Jeovany says. “Residents are responsible for removing all personal data, but we do lock electronics like laptops and cell phones inside at night as another layer of protection.” Another odd item that comes through Jeovany’s desk is soil from building contractors. The Brea Olinda landfill uses it as cover to bury trash. “We only accept dirt from Orange County contractors,” he explains. “They might be trying to get rid of dirt from a road or pool project, or maybe a new housing development.” The Brea Olinda landfill accepts the soil for free after it has passed testing to make sure it’s free of contaminants. Jeovany is the one checking those results. “If someone randomly showed up with a truckload of dirt, they’d be charged or turned away. We can only accept so much at a time.” After COVID hit, Jeovany, like so many across the County, has taken on a lot to keep services running smoothly. Currently, he’s the only
Jeovany and his family on vacation in San Francisco.
person in his specific role, as his previous partner took another job in June 2020. He does so much, a deputy director joked he should add “Detective” and “Firefighter” to his job title after a couple incidents at the Anaheim HHW. One fateful night in February 2020, while he and his wife were driving around to calm their infant son, he decided to drive past the Anaheim HHW site on the way home because of a recent rash of breakins. “We were going over the 91 Freeway and saw a guy walking eastbound and we were driving westbound,” Jeovany said. “He was wearing a headlamp. I told my wife that was odd.” He pulled a U-turn to make sure the man wasn’t going into the facility. Unfortunately, his wife saw a random light moving around near the electronics bin. He called the police, who arrested the individual. “I give my son credit for catching the person,” he said. The break-ins gave him another task: new fencing for the Anaheim facility. Earlier this year, as he was returning to the Anaheim HHW site, he saw smoke. It turned out a nearby homeless encampment had caught fire. Anaheim Fire Department, nearby businesses, including Republic Services, which handles trash collection for various cities, all worked to contain the blaze because if the hazardous waste caught fire, everyone would be in extreme danger. In the end, no one was injured. In his off time, Jeovany and his wife like to take a trip to the downtown San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market once every summer. “It’s not like your typical farmer’s market,” he says. “The environment is different. It’s a great time on a Thursday night. They have some of the best barbecue.” They look forward to taking their sons on vacation once the pandemic is over.
J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
5
1
2 COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NORTH TOPPING OFF CEREMONY In late June, a milestone was reached in the construction of the new County Administration North building. After months of work, one final beam remained to be raised and placed, signifying the completion of the building’s structure. Construction workers, particularly steel workers, celebrate this accomplishment by holding a “topping out” ceremony. The final beam is usually the highest point of a structure and is placed with a small evergreen tree on one end and a U.S. Flag on the other. The tree remains on the beam until it must be removed for ongoing construction and will be planted elsewhere afterward. The tradition dates back centuries to Scandinavian countries where builders would place a tree at the highest point of a new building. 6
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
The tree was intended to appease the tree-dwelling spirits that had been displaced during the construction of the building. County employees were invited to come and join in the festivities by signing the beam and watching it being raised into place that afternoon. Many took the opportunity to come out and participate, filling the beam with names, sketches, and words of wisdom for the ages. While the topping out signified the completion of the structure, work on the building continues. The County Administration North building is expected to be completed in August of 2022.
3
4 1. The highest beam being raised into place of the County Administration North building 2. From L-R: Chairman Andrew Do, First District, Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, Fourth District, Supervisor Katrina Foley, 2nd District, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, and Supervisor Donald A. Wagner, Third District.
5 3 & 4. County employees sign the beam before it is raised into position. 5. The American flag flies high on the beam after it has been secured in its place of the building's overhand section.
J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
7
REDISTRICTING 2021 WHAT IS REDISTRICITING? In the United States, redistricting describes the redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the Census to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population. The overall purpose of redistricting is to review districts and, where necessary, redraw districts to address any changes in population concentration. State, county, and city governments are responsible for redistricting. The state government redraws congressional and state legislative districts while county governments within states are responsible for drawing supervisorial districts. Finally, city governments are responsible for the redrawing of City Council districts. WHAT DOES REDISTRICTING MEAN FOR ORANGE COUNTY? Redistricting ensures that each Board of Supervisors member represents the same number of constituents. In Orange County, the Board of Supervisors is responsible for drawing supervisorial districts. The redistricting process will use adjusted 2020 Census data from the State of California. The 2020 Census data will be released by the end of September 2021, while Orange County must complete the redistricting process by December 15, 2021. WHY DOES REDISTRICTING MATTER TO ME? Redistricting and redrawing of boundaries rebalances district populations, enables constituents to vote for the Supervisor of their choice, and ensures elected board members reflect their district population. Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a board member. Those who serve on the Board of Supervisors oversee public health, social services, and public safety. The Board of Supervisors also provide municipal services to unincorporated areas and contract cities. The Board of Supervisors will seek input in selecting the next district map for our Supervisorial districts. Members of the public have an opportunity to share with the Board of Supervisors how they think district boundaries should be drawn. More information on this process may be found at ocgov.com/redistricting.
8
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
2022 OPEN ENROLLMENT IS COMING
Mark your calendar with some very important dates! The 2022 Open Enrollment period will begin on Wednesday October 20, 2021 and closes on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. This is the one time of the year you can make changes to your benefits and add or remove dependents from your coverage. Some benefits require you make a new election each year. We want to help make sure you are prepared and ready to go once Open Enrollment kicks off. Now is a great time to make sure your communication preferences found on mybenefits.ocgov.com are set so you will not miss out on any important information sent to you from the Benefits Service Center. Starting Wednesday, October 13, you can link directly from IntraOC or log on to My OC Benefits™ at mybenefits.ocgov.com to view the “Prepare to Make Your Benefits Choices” page: • • • • • •
Check health plan rates, Summary of Benefits and Coverages (SBC’s), compare health plans, access online tools Plan Information page – review helpful plan resources What to Know Guide Waiving Health Coverage Review the 2022 Open Enrollment presentation View short educational videos that make understanding your benefits easier
It is important to have the right coverage in place for you and your family. If you are planning on making changes, remember, we have online tools to help you find the information you need. These resources are all available on My OC Benefits™. Check them out, they may just come in handy! While on the website, if you have a question, you can initiate a live “Web Chat” with a Benefits Service Center representative by selecting “Contact Us” in the lower section of your screen. If you want a more interactive experience, attend our Virtual Open Enrollment Benefits Fair on Wednesday, October 27 from 11 am to 1 pm from the comfort of your own home or office. You will have access to the current health plan vendors at their virtual booth and get the information you are looking for. You will also have the opportunity to ask your questions and get answers! There will be raffle prizes that will be awarded to the winners. You will need to register and will receive the registration link one week prior to this event. Watch for upcoming County global emails for the link. Remember, you also have the option to call the Benefits Service Center and speak to a representative at 1-833-476-2347, Monday through Friday, starting at 8:00 a.m., except on holidays. During Open Enrollment, you can take advantage of extended hours until 8 p.m. through Friday, November 9, 2021. Remember you can also access the Employee Benefits website at its new address: hrs.ocgov.com. J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
9
AROUND THE
COUNTY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
10
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
11
Child Support Services - Get the Facts About Child Support During Child Support Awareness Month
12-13
John Wayne Airport - Summer Travel Tips from John Wayne Airport - Now Boarding … Fly Nonstop to New York From Orange County - The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Now Brewing at John Wayne Airport
13
Health Care Agency - OC Equity Map Launch Event
15
OC Waste & Recycling - Recycling Materials For Future Generations
26
Risk Management - Second District Election a Success - Governor Recall - Quality Assurance
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
Get the Facts About Child Support During Child Support Awareness Month
August is Child Support Awareness Month. This is a time for child support services professionals to reflect on the positive and continued impact their work has on Orange County’s children and families.
Child support collections distributed to families means helping parents ensure their children are financially supported. From October 2020 through June 2021, Orange County Child Support Services (OC CSS) has helped thousands of families through:
Child Support Awareness Month is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the services OC CSS offers to our community. Each year, OC CSS partners with the California Department of Child Support Services in a statewide awareness campaign. This year, we are encouraging parents and caregivers to “Get the Facts About Child Support” to have a better understanding of the services and resources we offer. You can get the facts about child support by: • Visiting our website, CSS.OCGOV.COM to learn more about our services • Watching our informational videos on YouTube • Following us on Facebook • Learning more about statewide efforts for Child Support Awareness Month Once you have the facts, help us raise awareness by: • Referring a friend or family member that could benefit from our services • Informing parents and caregivers while working in the community
J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
11
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Summer Travel Tips from John Wayne Airport
Summertime has arrived. If your vacation plans include traveling through John Wayne Airport this summer, review the following tips to get you from curbside through security checkpoints to your gate efficiently. ARRIVAL: • All passengers are encouraged to arrive 90 minutes to two hours before scheduled departure times for domestic flights and three hours for international flights to find parking, check luggage and go through security screening. PARKING: • Curbside Valet Parking is available for $30/day and is located on the Departure (upper) Level curbside between Terminals A and B or Terminals B and C. On your return, call 949-252-6260 or 2-4018 from any White Courtesy phone for faster service. • Parking Structures A1, A2, B2, and C are located adjacent to and directly across the Riley Terminal at a rate of $2/hour up to $20/day. • Airport parking structures are likely to reach capacity during peak travel periods. Travelers are able to check real-time parking availability online here before arriving at the Terminal. APP-BASED RIDESHARE: • Arriving guests should be aware of new pickup locations on the Departure (upper) Level in Parking Structures A2, B2 directly across from the Riley Terminal, and in Parking Structure C on Level 3 next to the Southwest ticketing area. Ride-app drop-off locations will continue to be on the Departure Level at curbside. More information is available here.
HEALTHY TRAVELS INFORMATION: • Passengers traveling through John Wayne Airport can expect to experience several measures designed to keep guests safe and are encouraged to review the Airport’s Healthy Travels practices and FAQs at www.ocair. com/covid19 before arriving. • Federal law requires travelers to wear face masks across all U.S. transportation networks, including airports, through September 13, 2021. Learn more about the TSA requirement here. Free face masks are available to all guests at Information Booths located in Baggage Claim (lower level). For more information about John Wayne Airport, visit www.ocair.com or click here to view additional travel tips.
Now Boarding … Fly Nonstop to New York From Orange County American Airlines launched daily nonstop service to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from John Wayne Airport on July 2, 2021, bringing even greater travel options to guests with more than 30 nonstop destinations in the U.S. and Mexico from Orange County. American Airlines operates the Airbus A321T series aircraft on this route which is touted as a luxurious transcontinental option, boasting just 102 seats in a threeclass configuration, with 10 first-class pods, 20 businessclass lie flatbeds, and 72 coach seats, half of which are designated with extra-legroom. To view a list of JWA’s nonstop destinations, click here or visit www.ocair.com. 12
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Now Brewing at John Wayne Airport
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) brings more food and beverage options to John Wayne Airport, with three new locations now open in Terminal A, B (pre-security, lower level), and C. Known for their signature Ice Blended® beverages and freshly brewed coffee and tea, CBTL also offers a variety of on-the-go food items, including baked goods, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and snacks. Download the free CBTL app to place a mobile order for pickup in the Terminal before your flight. To learn more about John Wayne Airport, visit www.ocair.com or view more dining and concessions options here.
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
OC Equity Map Launch Event
On July 14, the OC Health Care Agency unveiled a new data platform in partnership with the Orange County Board of Supervisors and non-profit organization Advance OC called the OC Equity Map (OCEM). Attendees at this launch event at Mile Square Park’s Freedom Hall in Fountain Valley included members of the Board, city and community leaders and media representatives (including NBC4 and Telemundo). The event opened with remarks from Chairman Andrew Do, First District; Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, Fourth District; and Dr. Clayton Chau, HCA Director and County Health Officer, followed by presentations from the HCA Office of Population Health and Equity Director, Hieu Nguyen; HCA Office of Project Management and Quality Improvement Director Karin Kalk; and Advance OC Director Katie Kalvoda. Attendees had the opportunity to try out a demonstration of the new platform and begin learning how the map can help address social and health disparities among those served in Orange County. The interactive map comprises composite scores for each OC neighborhood called the Social Progress Index (SPI), a worldwide metric which
captures population outcome data in three broad dimensions: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Well-being, and Opportunity. The SPI, in turn, relies on over 50 social indicators that reflect a wide range of social environment variables that contribute to a neighborhood’s social progress, such as supermarket access, broadband internet subscribers, eviction J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
13
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
(continued from Page 13)
The OC Equity Map
Participant learns more about utilizing the OC Equity Map from Staff.
From Left: Chairman Do, Dr. Chau, Vice Chairman Chaffee at OC Health Equity Event.
rates, diabetes prevalence and voter turnout. The OCEM visualizes Orange County into 580 census tracts and displays the scores from the SPI, CDC Health Indicators, and population demographic data as well as overlays additional information that can be customized for a variety of different use cases. The OCEM platform can be used by anyone in Orange County at no cost to measure, track and map inequities in the community with neighborhood precision, including identifying the root causes of inequities, understanding socioeconomic determinants, and informing strategies to advance the health and well-being of county residents. To test and explore this new analytic capability, the
HCA has been utilizing the OCEM platform to inform its COVID-19 responses, including testing, vaccine allocation and distribution, and other mitigation strategies. HCA has thus been able to identify disproportionately impacted communities at the ZIP Code and census tract level and, in turn, promote COVID-19 responses at the neighborhood level, such as can be seen in the standup of mobile vaccination clinics and targeted outreach efforts throughout the county. You can start exploring this new tool today and learning more about your neighborhood by visiting www.OCEquityMap.com. (For an instruction manual on how to use this new tool, click here.)
14
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
OC WASTE & RECYCLING
Recycling Materials For Future Generations
OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) takes in the County’s waste at our three active landfills but they don’t bury everything they receive. OCWR has become a resource recovery facility that also handles waste disposal at the landfills. The three main resource materials the landfills are recovering include mattresses, metals and greenwaste (organic material such as grass clippings, landscaping waste, tree trimmings and more from residents' backyards). As mattresses take up too much space in the landfill, they are taken off to a recycling center. Up to 80 percent of mattress materials can be recycled. Scrap metal and appliances are other large items that get recovered at our landfills. The scrap metal and appliances get transported from our landfills to a local recycler. The scrap metal can be melted into new items while the appliances can be refurbished and used for additional parts. With new legislation, composting is necessary to help steward the environment. Composting is a natural recycling process for food waste and greenwaste. It converts organic material into compost, which can be used to enrich soil and plants.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Recycling mattreses at OCWR
Placing trash in the proper bins ensures it gets recycled into new products or buried at the landfill. It’s easy to throw our trash away and forget about it, but OCWR is building a greener future for generations to come. Be sure to check out OCWR’s latest video: OC Landfills: Resource Recovery for a Greener Future
In Person Safety Training Gets a New Breath of Life!
CEO/Risk Management would like to announce the return of in-person Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/ First-Aid/AED training. These classes were suspended for over a year due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The first class began on July 21, teaching how to effectively recognize and treat adult emergencies in the critical first minutes until EMS personnel arrive. According to the American Heart Association, “CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.” While some positions in the County require employees be trained in CPR, First Aid, and AED usage, Risk Management believes it is good to have knowledge and training on this topic and makes it available to all County employees. Registration and course information can be found on Eureka and Supervisor approval is required to attend. During this past year, the Safety and Loss Prevention team worked hard to create online training content where it made sense. Online training can be an effective tool, but some content is more effective, or sometimes required, to be delivered in person/hands on training -- CPR, First Aid with AED being one of them.
CPR Training for County staff
J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
15
REGISTRAR OF VOTERS
September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election
While the official date for the California Gubernatorial Recall Election was only announced in the early part of July, the Registrar of Voters wasted no time in making all necessary preparations to ensure that voters in Orange County are informed about their voting options and have a positive experience as they prepare to cast a ballot during the September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. The Registrar of Voters mailed postcards to 1.8 million voters in Orange County, providing voters with information about their official mail ballot, and their nearest Vote Center and ballot drop-off location in preparation for the September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. The postcard was also translated and made available to voters in the Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese languages. Additionally, the Registrar of Voters sent voters a messaging email aimed at keeping voters informed
about their voting options. Ballots were also mailed to all Orange County neighborhood voters. For more information about how to vote, visit ocvote.com.
WELLNESS CENTER
County Wellness Center
The Wellness Center is open and ready for you to come in! The County of Orange Employee Wellness Center is now open and no membership or cost is required. The Wellness Center is open from 9am to 4pm, with scheduled activities at 10am, 12pm and 2:45pm. Make a reservation for the meditation room, health coaching, telehealth room, or one of the daily activities scheduled in the flexible workspace like a group exercise class or coloring for mindfulness. Only have five to 15 minutes to spare? The Wellness Center schedules quick activities each day, including five to 10 minute meditations or 15-20 minute stretch sessions. The flexible space has so much to offer! In addition to the guided meditation and afternoon stretches, you can participate in lunch and learns, dance classes, yoga, or focus on mindfulness with a variety of games available. We’ve even added some fitness equipment to help you feel your best. We have stocked the space with free weights, resistance bands, exercise balls, yoga mats and yoga blocks. Please visit www.CountyWellnessCenter.weebly.com to view the monthly calendar and to schedule your next visit to the Wellness Center. Don’t quite see an activity on the schedule that interests you? You can still stop in outside of those times and ask the 16
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
Wellness Center staff to play a seven-minute full body workout or 15 minute no-equipment cardio workout, or do one of your own! If you have questions, please email CountyWellnessCenter@ocgov.com County of Orange Employee Wellness Center Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm CAS Building – 1st Floor (by the Café) 601 N. Ross St. Santa Ana, CA 92701
WELLNESS OFFERING PARTICIPATION GIVEAWAY The County of Orange OC Healthy Steps Wellness Program is proud to offer employees a variety of opportunities to support their overall well-being. To motivate employees to improve their wellness knowledge and take action on their health we are introducing a quarterly giveaway for employees who participate in the offerings from the County of Orange Wellness Program. By attending a handful of wellness lunch and learns and/or classes offered by the County of Orange Wellness Center you will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. How to Qualify: Participate in 5 different wellness lunch and learns and/or classes offered in the Employee Wellness Center and virtually during a quarter. Three winners will be selected each quarter. To find the schedule of lunch and learns and Wellness Center classes, go to https://countywellnesscenter.weebly.com to view the calendar. In addition, you can find the monthly calendar in the emails sent from “HR/Employee Benefits” and “Wellness Center, County”. Prizes may be subject to taxation and reported on employee's W2 . For inquiries, call 714-834-3108 or email YourCountyBenefits@cigna.com 17
O C H ISTO RY THE 1933 EARTHQUAKE [PART 1]
PHOTO COURTESY OF OC ARCHIVES
The view along Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach, March 10, 1933.
Santa Ana High School student Bill Twist was home at 5:55 p.m., March 10, 1933, when Orange County was hit with the deadliest U.S. earthquake since the destruction of San Francisco in 1906. At first Twist thought the rumbling and shaking was a large truck. "But the noise got worse," he recalled 60 years later. "I thought, 'Boy, that is a really big truck!' About that time, I got up to look out and by that time it was really shaking. You could see the trees swaying. . . About that time, my dad was trying to get up the stairs to get to me and he got knocked back and forth, but he finally got up there." The initial shock lasted fifteen to thirty seconds and measured about 6.4 on today’s Richter scale. It was followed by many large aftershocks. Ultimately, the quake caused 120 fatalities (including at least four in Orange County), more than 2,500 injuries, and damages of at least $50 million in 1933 dollars. The scope of buildings and infrastructure damaged and destroyed throughout the region was tremendous. The quake impacted an estimated 75,000 square miles and was felt as far away as the San Joaquin Valley, the Owens Valley and northern Baja California. Although dubbed the “Long Beach Quake” its epicenter was about three miles southwest of Downtown Huntington Beach and about eight miles deep, along the Newport-Inglewood Fault. The Los Angeles Times described the scene as it played out in many local communities: "Buildings swayed and shook for minutes, falling bricks, chunks of cement and building material of all kinds rained down. Huge pieces of cement and bricks crashed through the tops of parked automobiles and in many instances injured pedestrians." Long Beach took the most casualties with fifty-two dead. Reporter Vera Kackley described how the quake felt in the 18
COUNTY CONNECTION / MAY 2017
18
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
by Chris Jepsen
PHOTO COURTESY OF OC ARCHIVES
The National Guard and police (shown here at an Alpha Beta market in Santa Ana) stood watch against looting and chaos. PHOTO COURTESY OF OC ARCHIVES
The McDaniel Garage, Westminster, after the quake.
Long Beach Press-Telegram's newsroom: "All of a sudden the building jumped. It did not sway as in ordinary . . . earthquakes. It jumped and shook until the whole building rattled. It was as if the building were a rag doll in the jaws of a terrier. . . Glass crashed, lights dimmed and crashed, desks were thrown together, and a telephone booth toppled and fell . . . Ceilings and timbers crashed and fell about us. We fought our way through and over the wreckage with plaster dust so thick we could not see two feet in front of us." She was sure she would not survive, but she did. The Twist family of Santa Ana spent that night outside, riding out the alarming aftershocks and listening to radio broadcasts about the massive destruction throughout the region. ". . . There was a big aftershock around eleven o'clock that night and you could hear it coming,” said Bill Twist. “I guess part of it
was the chimney and the bricks falling off the roof. There was clinking and then it got louder and louder. We could see the tennis court was just rippling, and I thought, 'My gosh, that's going to be nothing but sand in the morning.'” Much of the plaster in their home had cracked and fallen and soot from the destroyed chimneys covered everything. Like the Twists, thousands of Southern Californians stayed out of buildings that night, walking or driving until morning, huddling around street bonfires, dragging their beds into their yards, or sleeping in cars parked in vacant lots. Many temporarily fled cities and went out into the country. Luckily, the quake hit around dinnertime, and most were at home, either eating or preparing a meal when the quake struck. Wood frame houses generally fared much better than Southern California's many unreinforced brick commercial and government buildings, but many were also pushed off their foundations and/or had their chimneys destroyed. At least 120 schools were damaged and seventy were destroyed. Thousands would have been killed if the quake had struck while class was in session. Santa Ana High School, “was damaged, but not totally destroyed," remembered Twist, "particularly on the second floor of classes, you could sit and look right out through the walls through the big cracks." In the weeks that followed, he and other students would stamp their feet in unison to make the floor shake, scaring their teachers half to death. "We took great delight in that which really was unkind and thoughtless, but that's what kids will do." Many roads were closed by the quake, with poles or walls collapsed into the street, bridges damaged, and pavement cracked. In some areas, phone lines were down as well. Power was knocked out in many areas. Some natural springs and wells suddenly went dry, while other long-dry wells suddenly flowed again. Different communities took varying amounts of damage, depending on not only proximity to the epicenter, but also on the local geology and the methods used to construct their buildings. Immediate attempts to assess the damage were impeded by a heavy fog. Buena Park took a beating with many homes damaged, water and gas pipes broken, and live electrical lines draped dangerously across roadways. Inglewood, Compton, Huntington Park and Artesia were also hit hard. Costa Mesa Grammar School and almost every building in Costa Mesa’s commercial district were seriously damaged. In Laguna Beach, large boulders rolled down onto roads, blocking traffic. In San Clemente, landslides brought down some of the most expensive homes in town, including the home of Mayor Tom Murphine. In Cypress, the school was destroyed, forcing classes to meet in tents for several years. Anaheim’s business district experienced damage as well. Orange, Tustin, La Habra, and San Juan Capistrano reported minor damage (like broken windows) and no casualties. In marshier areas like Fountain Valley and Stanton, a slurry of wet mud and sand shot up through fissures in the earth in some
PHOTO COURTESY OF OC ARCHIVES
The building with arches, on the left, along Highway 101 (now El Camino Real), was San Clemente’s first City Hall, seen here in the 1930s.
areas. In other areas, solid land turned to quicksand. The spot where the shock was felt the strongest was near the beach in what’s now Southeast Huntington Beach. Luckily, that area was very sparsely populated in the 1930s. Still, that stretch of Pacific Coast Highway split and stair-stepped in the middle, and oil derricks were, as historian Leo Friis put it, “squashed several inches out of the ground.” Downtown brick building facades came crashing down and foundations were damaged. Local girl Billie Kennedy watched Central Grammar School collapse and was horrified to think of the children and teachers who would have been killed had he quake struck earlier. The school would soon be rebuilt as Ethel Dwyer Intermediate School. In Newport Beach, 800 chimneys toppled and several buildings were destroyed. Reports of an expected but nonexistent tsunami sent many scurrying inland. Ultimately, the quake was surprisingly less violent in Newport than in many other surrounding communities that were farther from the epicenter. Newport had one quake casualty who was generally not included in the overall tally: Santa Ana pioneer merchant George A. Edgar died of a heart attack triggered by the quake while visiting at his Balboa summer home. Our next edition will discuss the grim effects of the quake in Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Seal Beach, as well as lessons learned in the aftermath which permanently changed Orange County for the better.
CHRIS JEPSEN is the Assistant Archivist at the Orange County Archives, a function under the office of Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen. Reach him at Chris.Jepsen@rec.ocgov.com or 714-834-4771 if you have questions about the Archives. MAY 2017 / COUNTY CONNECTION
J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
19
19
CYBERSECURITY CORNER Be Aware of Ransomware Ransomware is a form of malware that maliciously and silently locks or encrypts your files and makes them unusable. Then modern cyber-criminals demand a payment in exchange for giving you a decryption key that will unlock your priced files. However, only the ransom files are not guaranteed to be restored to their original state. One such very publicized ransomware attack took place this past May when "DarkSide" an organized cyber-criminal group known to operate from Russia, successfully shut down the Pipeline that supplies almost half the oil to America's east coast for five days. They demanded a $4.3m ransom payment from the owner, Colonial Pipeline Company. The frequency of these attacks is genuinely alarming; no organization or industry is immune to this new age of cyber-insecurity that impinges on everyone. From schools to hospitals to big corporations to tech firms to home users, we are all vulnerable. Is there something that we could do to either prevent, minimize its likelihood, or reduce its impact? The answer is yes. It all starts with practicing basic cyber hygiene at work and home. Build a shield around you and your computer and prevent ransomware from entering your system. Back up your computer. Perform frequent backups of your system and other essential files, verify your backups regularly, store your backups separately and use cloud storage if possible. Educate yourself and your organization. The County of Orange provides cybersecurity awareness training to all its personnel. Remain curious and vigilant and get informed about current cybersecurity threats and threat actor techniques. Update and patch your computer. Ensure to update your applications and operating systems with the latest patches. Unpatched vulnerable applications and operating systems are the targets of most ransomware attacks. Activate the ransomware protection option in Windows 10. Use and maintain preventative software programs. Install antivirus software, firewalls and email filters—and keep them updated—to reduce malicious network traffic. Use caution with links and when entering website addresses. Be careful when clicking directly on links in emails, even if the sender appears to be someone you know. Phishing emails are the number one port of entry into your computer. Distrust all email attachments and open them with caution. Be wary of opening email attachments, even from senders you think you know, particularly when attachments are compressed files or ZIP files. Keep your personal information safe. Check a website's security to ensure the information you submit is encrypted before you provide it. Verify email senders. If you are unsure whether or not an email is legitimate, try to verify the email's legitimacy by contacting the sender directly. Report any phishing attempt that you may suspect. Inform yourself. Keep yourself informed about recent cybersecurity threats and up-to-date on ransomware techniques. Visit the recently unveiled Whitehouse ransomware information initiative https://www.StopRansomware.gov/. Employees are the first line of cybersecurity defense within the County, and we thank you for your continued vigilance. If you have any questions, please contact: Enterprise Privacy & Cybersecurity team - securityadmin@ocit.ocgov.com Enterprise Privacy & Cybersecurity Portal - https://ocgov.sharepoint.com/Collab/SvcAreas/cyber Report Phishing E-mail - phishing@ocit.ocgov.com or Phishing Alert Button on your Outlook toolbar Report Spam E-mail - spam@ocit.ocgov.com Central IT Service Desk at 844-834-2449
20
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
SAFETY SPOTLIGHT Avoid Heat-Related Illness High temperatures kill hundreds of people every year. Heat-related deaths and illness are preventable, yet more than 600 people die from extreme heat every year. In 2013, for example, 16,320 reports of heat illness were so serious it resulted in days away from work, according to the U.S. Office of Compliance. Take measures to stay cool, remain hydrated and keep informed. Getting too hot can make you sick because your body can’t compensate and properly cool you off.
Stay Hydrated
Avoid Heatstroke
Who’s at Risk: • Infants and young children • Elderly people • Individuals with heart or circulatory problems or other long-term illness • People who work outdoors Recognizing Heat Exhaustion When the body loses an excessive amount of salt and water, heat exhaustion can set in. Symptoms include: • Muscle cramps • Clammy or pale skin • Dizziness • Headache • Nausea • Vomiting If you see someone with signs of overheating, move the person to a cooler location, have them rest for a few minutes and then slowly drink a cool beverage. Get medical attention for them immediately if they do not feel better. Recognizing Heatstroke Heatstroke can occur when the ability to sweat fails and body temperatures rises quickly. The brain and vital organs are effectively cooked as the body temperature rises to a dangerous level in a matter of minutes. Heatstroke is often fatal, and those who do survive may have permanent damage to their organs. Symptoms include: • An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F) • Red, hot and dry skin • Rapid, strong pulse • Throbbing headache • Nausea, confusion and unconsciousness If you see any of these signs, get medical help immediately. Tips to Prevent Heat Related Illness: • Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar. • Have a beverage with you at all times, and sip or drink frequently. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. • Dress in lightweight clothing. • Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Find a cooling center near you at OC Cooling Centers. • Never leave infants, children or frail elderly unattended in a parked car. • During the hottest parts of the day, keep physical activities to a minimum. Sources: www.healthiestbest.com , www.redcross.org , www.cdc.gov J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
21
2021 MOVIE NIGHTS CALENDAR THE NEVERENDING STORY
PG (1984) June 18 | Craig Park | 3300 State College Blvd. | Fullerton
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
PG (2010) June 25 | Carbon Canyon Park | 4442 Carbon Canyon Road | Brea
INDEPENDENCE DAY
PG (1996) July 2 | Carbon Canyon Park | 4442 Carbon Canyon Road | Brea
DOLITTLE
PG (2020) July 9 | Yorba Park | 7600 E. La Palma | Anaheim
THE SANDLOT PG (1993)
July 16 | Yorba Park | 7600 E. La Palma | Anaheim
TOY STORY 4 G (2019)
July 23 | Mason Park | 18712 University Drive | Irvine
WILLOW
PG (1988) July 30 | Mason Park | 18712 University Drive | Irvine
THE LION KING PG (2019)
August 6 | Irvine Park | 1 Irvine Rd. | Orange
THE MIGHTY DUCKS
PG (1992) August 13 | Irvine Park | 1 Irvine Rd. | Orange
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER PG-13 (2019) August 20 | Laguna Niguel | 28241 La Paz Rd. | Laguna Niguel
HOOK
PG (1991) August 27 | Laguna Niguel | 28241 La Paz Rd. | Laguna Niguel
DOLPHIN TALE
PG (2011) September 3 | Salt Creek Beach | 33333 S. PCH | Dana Point
THE LITTLE MERMAID
PG (1989) September 10 | Salt Creek Beach | 33333 S. PCH | Dana Point
FRIDAYS | OPEN AT 6 P.M. | MOVIE AT SUNSET ARRIVE EARLY | ALL AGES | FREE ADMISSION & PARKING Learn more at ocparks.com or facebook.com/orangecountyparks For more information, scan QR code Para más información, escanee el código QR 더 많은 정보가 필요하다면, QR 코드를 스캔하세요 Muốn có thêm thông tin, xin quét mã số QR
欲了解更多信息，請掃描二維碼。
22
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
DEDE DAMMANN
Learning & Development Program Manager - Human Resource Services
“This past week I was at Irvine park. When I arrived at The Soda Fountain Pavilion conferment room at 7 AM there must have been seven baby squirrels milling about outside and next to them multiple holes in the ground. As I approached, all but two scattered in to their holes. The two that remained were like statures, just basking in the warmth of the sunhad to take a picture.” SUBMIT PHOTOS TO TRAVIS.LARIVIERE@OCGOV.COM J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
23
SERVICE AWARDS - July 2021 Recognizing our long-serving employees and their years of dedication to the County of Orange
45 YEARS
25 YEARS
20 YEARS
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
ASSESSOR
ASSESSOR
RAPPAPORT, LINDA M
35 YEARS OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES QUILLMAN, JULIE E
SHERIFF-CORONER
HOLLENBECK, DIANE M WAGNER, KIMBERLY A
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY THAVORN, AILEEN N
30 YEARS CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
BLANKENSHIP, MARNELL L FERNANDEZ, SUSANA M
HEALTH CARE AGENCY MIKHAIL, LYDIA T
PROBATION
CHANG, CATHY H
SHERIFF-CORONER
HENDERSON, SHELLY J LIM, JENNIFER S
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY COMBS, JULIE MARTIN, SIOBHAN K NGO, KRISTINE K SALUDES, CHRISTINA S TAYLOR, LAURA VU, AMY P
GRAY, BARBARA J LEE, RANDALL B RAMIREZ, RICHARD B
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES KANE, NATALIE R
HUA, HOWARD
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER MOHAMMED, DIL ROGERS, MICHAEL ROMAN, LINDA
COUNTY COUNSEL
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE
CLERK-RECORDER
STITS, DANA J
RAMIREZ, JAIME
HEALTH CARE AGENCY HOANG, SARAH P
OC PUBLIC WORKS
BROWN, WENDY J
PROBATION
BROWN, SHEILA A LOCKHART, CORINA PALMER, HERMELINDA
SHERIFF-CORONER
BEACHNER, MICHAEL L CROWLEY, JEFF T HOVE, NEIL E MONTOYA, TOMMY J NEITZEL, GREGORY C NGUYEN, HUY T NGUYEN, LLOYD P ROBLES, MANAEN SCHAFF, PAUL H SEKO, CRAIG Y STIVERSON, MATTHEW P VOGEL, JAMES L WITTEMAN, ROBERT G
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY CONARD, ALISON D FISHER, TERRY L MCCLUSKEY, SHERI D TRUJILLO, TERESA M VU, DANG M VUU, SANDY
PAUL, KAREN T TUCKER, AJA N
COUNTY COUNSEL
DAFTARY, NIKHIL G SU, JEANNIE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE BOIARSKY, JANINE R FLORES, ERIKA L ORTIZ, SUSANA SANDOVAL, CYNTHIA L
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BIRNEY, MARK A COTA, DANIELLE D
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
DEVANI, MILONI I GONZALEZ-MAYO, MARIA T HERNANDEZ, LETICIA KARIM, BABAR NGUYEN, NHUNG H PORTENIER, ANDREA E RAHIMI, WIDA
OC PUBLIC WORKS
CRANE, GREG W LABRADOR, WEBSTER F
PROBATION
AZOULAY, AVI BALMA, ROBERT S CHAVEZ, ERIC DELGADO, GERMAINE DURAN, LEOBARDO E GONZALEZ, OSCAR JONES, CHRISTOPHER A LOZANO, JOANNE MILSTEAD, TIFFANI M ROBINSON, RENAL R SOTO, JOSE A
SHERIFF-CORONER
ARAMBULO, JESSE M BRAKE, AARON W CHAVEZ, CHRISTINA DOMONDON, ANNELLI B GURIDDI, CESAR H GUYER, GUY R MARQUEZ, DAVID ORTEGA, ANNETTE L
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY
BUNNETT, JOHN D CASILLAS, VERONICA CERVANTES, YAJAIRA A COBBS, DAWN A ELIAS, LARISSA A HARMON, AUDREY N HERNANDEZ-LOPEZ, LORETTA HO, MAI H KELLY, YOLANDA C LEE, JERRY K MARTINEZ, MONICA A NEGHABAT, MARIA D NGUYEN, JAN T PARSLEY, LAURA L QUINTANA, HILDA TRAN, TAWNI K USREY, BARBARA J VAZQUEZ, BRENDA WOODLAND, DAVID W YESIA, MARK L
If you would like to have your name not printed in the Service Awards section, email ceocom@ocgov.com. If you believe there has been an error or omission in reporting your years of service, please email HRDataPortal@ocgov.com.
To view the July list in its entirety, which also includes recipients of 5-, 10-, 15-year Service Awards, please click here. 24
Co unty Co n n e c t i on
SERVICE AWARDS - August 2021 40 YEARS SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY GILLIS, MONICA H
35 YEARS HEALTH CARE AGENCY ENDO, EILEEN H
OC PUBLIC WORKS
STIELER, CHRISTIAN J
SHERIFF-CORONER
STERETT, RANDALL T
30 YEARS DISTRICT ATTORNEY
STURM, RICHARD R
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
BARCENAS-CABRERA, MARISELA CHAVEZ, JESUSITA G VEGA-PAZ, ELIZABETH
OC PUBLIC WORKS
STEPHENS, KEVIN D
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY MORA, ANTHONY RUIZ, CARMEN R
25 YEARS ASSESSOR
BOUFFARD, KARI L SALGUERO, JOSE A
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER CHEN, STEPHANIE WHITE, TERESA L
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE FIGUEROA, ANA E
HEALTH CARE AGENCY MOULTON, ALEXIS V NGUYEN, MAX C
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT LOVETTE, PAUL D
PROBATION
ESPINOZA, RALPH GUZMAN, EFRAIN G SANDOVAL, ESTEVAN A ZAMORANO, RICHARD
SHERIFF-CORONER
ALBERT, GEORGIE A BURMOOD, AMY E FREGOSO, MANUEL HALLOCK, JEFFREY A HENRIQUEZ, LIZETH E HEYE, TARA V KO, YIU-FAI LOPEZ, CARLOS J QUINTERO, BENJAMIN L SMITH, DAVID M
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY BUTLER, DANIEL D CABALLERO, MONICA L CAMPUZANO, RENE HERNANDEZ, VIVIAN
20 YEARS ASSESSOR
FINCH, STEVEN
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER GUNADI, ADRIANUS I TRAN, THAO T
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES GADBOIS, ROY W
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE MOE, TIMOTHY H NELLI, SHOBHA S
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
ALEMAN, ARNOLD BEENEY, ASHLEY J CORDOVA, CHRISTINA DAUR, LANCE PHAM, NANCY L THOMAS, STEPHANIE M THORNTON, APRIL S
OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES FEE, CRAIG A
OC PUBLIC WORKS
COOKE, CLINT MARTINEZ, JOHN A SERAFINI, LAWRENCE G SOTO, JAVIER
OC WASTE & RECYCLING GERSCH, WADE C
PROBATION
ABARCA, YOLANDA AGUILAR, EDWARD R NUNO, JESUS A PADILLA, MARIA D RODRIGUEZ, DEBBY SOSA, MICHELLE P WESTRA, JUSTIN D WILLIAMS, KIMBERLY W
SHERIFF-CORONER
BUFFONG, JEREMY A DURAN, MANUEL ELLIS, RACHELLE S LA PYRNE, ANA E PETERSON, CONSTANCE M ROBINSON, DAVID E VILLA, DANIEL J ZIKA, ROBERT V
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY ESCARMANT, TAMARA M GARCIA, MARITZA C GUTIERREZ, GLADYS Z NIEBLAS, DANIEL A RUVALCABA, PATRICIA A TIEU, LAN T
ALLOUCHE, FADI A NAJERA, JUDY J
If you would like to have your name not printed in the Service Awards section, email ceocom@ocgov.com. If you believe there has been an error or omission in reporting your years of service, please email HRDataPortal@ocgov.com.
To view the August list in its entirety, which also includes recipients of 5-, 10-, 15-year Service Awards, please click here. J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 21
25
C O U N T Y
O F
O R A N G E
MISSION STATEMENT MAKING ORANGE COUNTY A
safe, healthy, and fulfilling place to
LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY,
TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME,
by providing outstanding, cost-effective
regional public services.
