Paul Lowenthal

One added challenge of these shutoffs, taking down some cameras designed to detect wildfires.

Paul Lowenthal with the Santa Rosa Fire Department says it's why backups exist.

Same thing can go with emergency alerts.

There's always the potential that our emergency alert system could go down or that people may not have access to it.

That declaration allows Sonoma County to add on staff and start letting people in high-risk areas know what could potentially come.

Paul Lowenthal is division chief with the Santa Rosa Fire Department.

He says while the city's burn scars aren't a worry anymore, the creeks and streams are.

flooding can happen relatively quickly.