(Santa Ana, CA) - A bat found at Northwood Community Park in Irvine has tested positive for rabies.  The bat was found at the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in the park on the corner of Bryan and Yale Ave. on Thursday, August 29th, 2024, at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Anyone who may have had physical contact with this bat or who saw someone having contact with the bat is asked to call the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) at (714) 834-8180 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or (714) 834-7792 after hours to determine the risk for rabies. Owners of pets who may have had contact with this bat should contact their veterinarian.

The rabies virus is found in an animal’s saliva and is transmitted to people by a bite from a rabid animal. Although very rare, contamination of the eyes, mouth or an open wound by the saliva of a rabid animal can also transmit rabies. Most cases of human rabies in the United States in recent years have resulted from bat strains of rabies. Bats have very small teeth so their bites may go unnoticed.

Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. For that reason, preventive treatment to stop the rabies virus from causing illness is given to anyone who may have been exposed to rabies. Medical assistance should be obtained promptly after an exposure so any wound can be cleaned, and preventive treatment can be started. This treatment is safe and effective.

The HCA and OC Animal Care recommend the following actions to minimize the risk of rabies:

• Avoid all contact with wild animals.
• Vaccinate all cats and dogs against rabies.
• Do not sleep with open unscreened windows or doors.
• If bats are seen inside the house or other structure, close off the area and contact animal control. Once the bat(s) have been removed, close off any areas allowing entrance into the house.
• Do not leave pet food outside where it will attract wild animals.
• Immediately wash all animal bites with soap and water, being sure to flush the wound well, then contact your doctor.
• Report all animal bites to OC Animal Care.
• Report stray animals to OC Animal Care.

Potential exposure to a bat or other wild animal should be reported to the HCA’s CDCD team at (714) 834-8180. To report a bat in your home, an animal bite, or a stray animal, contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848.

More information about rabies is available at the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.

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(Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency reports today that a resident of Huntington Beach has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the first human WNV case in Orange County this year. Health officials urge residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their family.
 
“West Nile Virus regularly occurs in Orange County during the summer months and into the fall. With increased WNV Activity reported by our partners at OC Vector Control, we anticipate that additional human cases may be reported in the coming weeks,” said Dr. Matthew Zahn, Deputy County Health Officer. "We encourage everyone to take precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites as the best way to avoid West Nile Virus infection.”

Recommended WNV precautions include:

• Emptying all standing water on your property to reduce areas in which mosquitoes may breed, including flowerpots and pet bowls.
• Making sure your window and door screens are in good condition.
• Using insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or products containing IR3535, always following label directions.
• Limiting outdoor activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

Most people who become infected with WNV do not experience symptoms, but about 20% will develop fever and may have headache, body aches, nausea, tiredness and sometimes a skin rash. More serious symptoms, such as severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness or paralysis, occur more rarely, but people who develop these symptoms should seek medical care immediately. People over 50 years of age and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of serious complications from WNV infection.

In 2023 there were 7 reported human infections of WNV reported in Orange County. Information on mosquito control is available on the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s website at  www.ocvector.org. Other websites with helpful information about WNV include:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC West Nile Virus.
• State of California: CA West Nile Virus.
• OC Health Care Agency: HCA West Nile Virus.

ABOUT THE OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources.

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Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen invites families and individuals to prepare for their summer travels at the 9th Special Passport Day on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Old Orange County Courthouse, located at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701. This Special Passport Day will be a one-stop shop to get passport photos taken and apply for a new passport. Due to high demand, appointments are highly recommended. Walk-ins are accepted on a first come, first served basis. To book an appointment for Passport Day, please visit OCCLERKRECORDER.GOV.

“Since 2017, Special Passport Day has been a fantastic opportunity for busy families and individuals to apply for a new passport without missing school or work,” said Clerk-Recorder Nguyen. “Let us help you get a head start on your travel plans.”

Special Passport Day is scheduled on a weekend to accommodate those with weekday commitments at school or work. This timing is particularly beneficial for parents, as both parents are required for passport applications for children under the age of 16. For applicants aged 16 and 17, only one parent's presence is necessary.

To ensure a smooth experience, please bring the following:

• A completed and unsigned DS-11 Form
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship
• Proof of Identity
• A check or money order for the U.S. Department of State fees
• Payments for the Clerk-Recorder’s processing fee of $35 and the passport photo fee of $7, which can be made via cash, credit/debit card, money order, or check payable to “Orange County Clerk-Recorder”

For passport renewal eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

For more information, call (714) 834-2500 or visit OCCLERKRECORDER.GOV. Our information line is open Monday through Friday, 8:00

Santa Ana, CA (February 24, 2025) – Interim Orange County Executive Officer (CEO) Michelle Aguirre announced that Jessica Witt is the new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ms. Witt assumed her role on Friday, February 7, 2025.

“Jessica participated in a competitive selection process, and her 20 years of dedicated service to the County—along with her extensive leadership experience—distinguished her as the best choice for Chief Operating Officer. Having worked alongside Jessica for many years, I have seen firsthand her integrity, leadership, and ability to bring calm and common sense even in the most challenging times,” said Interim County CEO Michelle Aguirre. “I am confident that her experience and commitment will greatly benefit the County and the residents we serve.” 

Ms. Witt’s most recent role at the County was serving as the Director of CEO Government & Community Relations, where she lead the County’s legislative, communication, and CEO’s administrative efforts including the County’s Service Center Information Desk.  

Ms. Witt joined the County in 2003 and over her 20 years of dedicated service to the County served as Deputy Chief of Staff to a member of the Board of Supervisors, Manager of Strategic Planning & Legislation for OC Public Works, and Deputy Chief Operating Officer in the County Executive Office.

Ms. Witt earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.  She is a CSAC Credentialed County Senior Executive and recently completed the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy.

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 14, 2025): Effective Friday, February 14 at 11:15 am all evacuation orders have been lifted for Trabuco Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Bell Canyon, Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon. 

To report storm-related issues with a County road or flood control channel, call the Orange County Public Works Storm Center 714-955-0200 during standard business hours and 714-955-0333 during flash flood events and emergencies when OC Public Works’ Department Operations Center is activated.

A map and more information about the order being lifted may be found at: www.ocsheriff.gov/airportfire.

Evacuation Areas

• Trabuco Canyon – Mandatory – Evacuation Lifted
• Hot Springs Canyon – Mandatory – Evacuation Lifted
• Bell Canyon – Mandatory – Evacuation Lifted
• Long Canyon – Voluntary – Evacuation Lifted
• Modjeska Canyon – Voluntary – Evacuation Lifted

Road Closures

• Trabuco Canyon Road bridge is expected to be closed until early evening, Friday, February 14. This is needed to remove the large amount of mud and debris from the roadway, to be followed by structural inspection and re-positioning of k-rail barriers. Please plan to use alternate routes through this evening or until further notice.
• Until early next week depending on further updates, Trabuco Creek Road will be closed starting next to the Trabuco Flyers RC facility and continuing north. This is needed to allow maintenance of affected areas and inspections to ensure it can re-open once it’s deemed safe early next week. Trabuco Creek Road will be open from Trabuco Canyon Road to the Trabuco Flyers RC facility. Please drive with caution in the area.

Residents are encouraged to check regularly for updates through local media and on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) following #OCCanyonFlood at:

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Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) remains in place for Long and Modjeska Canyons

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 13, 2025) Effective Thursday, February 13 at 12 pm, an Evacuation Order (Mandatory) will be issued for areas in Trabuco Creek including the RC Airport, fire station, campground/park and school, Bell Canyon including Starr Ranch and Hot Springs Canyon including Lazy-W Ranch due to possible debris flows along or near the Airport Fire burn scar. An Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) remains in place for Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon. A map with detailed depictions of the areas under Evacuation Warning (voluntary) can be found at  www.ocsheriff.gov/airportfire.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the burn scar area for Thursday, February 13 at 10 am through Friday, February 14 at 4 am for the expected rain event. 

Any person with disabilities and those with access and/or functional needs requiring evacuation assistance should call Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch at 714-647-7000.

Orange County Animal Care encourages animal owners in voluntary evacuation areas to implement their personal evacuation plans at this time. Pet evacuation tips are available at: https://ocpetinfo.com/education-resources/disaster-preparedness.

Any person needing assistance with information about animal or large animal evacuations should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848 during normal hours from 8 am to 5 pm or 714-259-1122 during after-hours from 5 pm to 8 am.

To report storm-related issues with a County road or flood control channel, call the Orange County Public Works Storm Center at 714-955-0333 during flash flood events and emergencies when OC Public Works’ Department Operations Center is activated.

Evacuation Areas

• Trabuco Canyon - Evacuation Order (MANDATORY – as of February 13 at 12 pm) 
• Hot Springs Canyon - Evacuation Order (MANDATORY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)
• Bell Canyon - Evacuation Order (MANDATORY – as of February 13 at 12 pm) 
• Long Canyon - Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)
• Modjeska Canyon - Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)

Road Closures 

Hard road closures will be in place on Thursday, February 13 at 12 pm at the following locations:

• Trabuco Road/Rose Canyon  
• Plano Trabuco/Robinson
• Grey Rock/Bell Canyon
• Hot Springs Canyon/Ortega Highway

OC Parks

O’Neill Regional Park and campgrounds remains closed, effective Thursday, February 13.

Sheltering

Residents living in the evacuation areas are encouraged to leave early and plan for alternate shelter with friends, family or at a local hotel outside of the evacuation area.  Depending on conditions, the Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) for Long and Modjeska Canyons may transition to Evacuation Order (Mandatory) with little or no notice, so residents leaving the area are encouraged to plan accordingly.

In coordination with the Orange County Social Services Agency, Orange County Public Libraries and the American Red Cross opened a congregate (dormitory style) shelter location for evacuated residents of the Canyons at 8 am on Thursday, February 13.  The shelter is located at the Foothill Ranch Library Program Annex, which is directly adjacent to the Foothill Ranch Library located at 27002 Cabriole Way, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610. 

Orange County Public Works, Orange County Animal Care, the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are working in Unified Command.

Residents are encouraged to check regularly for updates through local media and on Facebook and Twitter following #OCCanyonFlood at:

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Santa Ana, Calif. (February 12, 2025) Effective Thursday, February 13 at 8 am, an Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) will be issued for areas in Trabuco Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Bell Canyon, Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon due to possible debris flows along or near the Airport Fire burn scar.  A map with detailed depictions of the areas under Evacuation Warning (voluntary) can be found at  www.ocsheriff.gov/airportfire.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the burn scar area for Thursday, February 13 at 10 am through Friday, February 14 at 4 am for the expected rain event. 

Canyon residents are strongly encouraged to prepare and voluntarily evacuate on Thursday, February 13 at 8 am, especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals.

Any person with disabilities and those with access and/or functional needs requiring evacuation assistance should call Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch at 714-647-7000.

Orange County Animal Care encourages animal owners in voluntary evacuation areas to implement their personal evacuation plans at this time. Pet evacuation tips are available at: https://ocpetinfo.com/education-resources/disaster-preparedness.

Any person needing assistance with information about animal or large animal evacuations should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848 during normal hours from 8 am to 5 pm or 714-259-1122 during after-hours from 5 pm to 8 am.

To report storm-related issues with a County road or flood control channel, call the Orange County Public Works Storm Center at 714-955-0333 during flash flood events and emergencies when OC Public Works’ Department Operations Center is activated.

Evacuation Areas

• Trabuco Canyon - Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 8 a.m.) 
• Hot Springs Canyon Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 8 a.m.)
• Bell Canyon Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 8 a.m.)
• Long Canyon Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 8 a.m.)
• Modjeska Canyon Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 8 a.m.)

Road Closures 

Soft road closures may be in place in the Canyon locations, particularly in Trabuco Canyon and Modjeska Canyon near the Airport Fire burn scar.

OC Parks

Beginning on Thursday, February 13, O’Neill Regional Park will be closed, including the campgrounds, out of an abundance of caution.

Sheltering

Residents living in the evacuation areas are encouraged to leave early and plan for alternate shelter with friends, family or at a local hotel outside of the evacuation area.  Depending on conditions, the Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) may transition to Evacuation Order (Mandatory) with little or no notice, so residents leaving the area are encouraged to plan accordingly.

In coordination with the Orange County Social Services Agency, Orange County Public Libraries and the American Red Cross will open a congregate (dormitory style) shelter location for evacuated residents of the Canyons 8 am on Thursday, February 13.  The shelter will be located at the Foothill Ranch Library Program Annex, which is directly adjacent to the Foothill Ranch Library located at 27002 Cabriole Way, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610. 

Orange County Public Works, Orange County Animal Care, the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are working in Unified Command.

Residents are encouraged to check regularly for updates through local media and on Facebook and Twitter following #OCCanyonFlood at:

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Santa Ana, Calif. (February 11, 2025)– The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted an ordinance that allows the County Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to exercise the Board of Supervisors’ investment authority and approved a County Investment Policy (Policy) that establishes investment guidelines to govern the Board’s investment authority. California law vests the authority to invest monies deposited in the County treasury with the Board of Supervisors. 

County investments must comply with the restrictions on permissible investments outline in the Government Code. By adopting this Policy, the Board approved a Policy that is more restrictive than state law and governs the investment of the funds of the County and the funds of other depositors in the County treasury. 

The Policy includes a list of authorized investments, diversification, maturity and duration restricts as well as list of prohibited transactions. This Policy will be maintained by the County Investment Manager. This Policy will be reviewed on an annual basis and submitted to the Board annually as a receive and file item as a part of the County’s Strategic Financial Plan (SFP). Any changes to the policy shall be presented to the Board for review and approval. 

In addition to these actions, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento directed staff to bring the following to the Board of Supervisors:

• Directed staff to review the Voluntary Pool Participant program, and whether the program should be terminated, and which oversight committee should be charged with the responsibility for ensuring compliance with the County Investment Policy, and to return to the Board with options.

Santa Ana, Calif. – Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich is informing taxpayers that property owners impacted by the recent southern California fires may have certain property tax relief options available to them. If a property has been damaged/destroyed due to a disaster/calamity by $10,000 or more, taxpayers should file the Application for Reassessment of Property Damaged by Misfortune or Calamity with their County Assessor and at the same time, apply to the County Assessor to defer payment for the second installment of property taxes.  

If the County Assessor approves the Application for Reassessment and the property owner also has applied for the deferral of taxes, the property owner will have their 2024-25 secured property tax second installment payment deferred without penalty or interest until the County Assessor has reassessed the property, and the Treasurer-Tax Collector has sent a corrected bill to the property owner.  Property taxes will be due 30 days after the reissued property tax bill is mailed and the bill will be searchable online by address and APN.

Key Property Tax Relief Payment Options Available:

• Apply to the County Assessor for Payment Deferral When you Complete the Application for Reassessment: Deferral of the second installment of property tax payments provides immediate financial relief during this challenging time, allowing property owners to manage their finances during this disaster without the burden of also having to pay their property tax payment by April 10, 2025. If 2nd installment taxes are already paid, a refund can be processed.
• Cancellation of Late Penalties: For approved applicants, the issued property tax bill will be cancelled, including all penalties.  A new property tax bill will be mailed once the property has been reassessed.  This measure ensures that affected property owners are not penalized while they work to recover from the impacts of the wildfires. Depending on the approval timing, the online property tax site may continue to show the taxes due and penalties applied to the amount showing as delinquent. The new property tax bill and due dates will be available online as soon as the bill is issued.
• Reassessment Opportunities: In addition to the relief options on property tax payments, approved applicants will have their property reassessed by the County Assessor, lowering the amount of the property tax that will be on the new property tax bill.  
• Mailing Address Update: Update your mailing address to get the new property tax bill by going to octreasurer.gov (Orange County residents) and locate the link to the form found under the “How Do I” tab.  
• Personal Property (business assessments/boats/aircraft): Tax reduction is available for damaged property of $10,000+. Complete the personal property line on the Application for Reassessment.
• Other Tax Planning options:  Check with your Assessor on the ability to maintain current tax amounts on Replacement Primary Residence base year transfers in CA and rebuilding homes/improvement in a similar manner.    
• We encourage all impacted taxpayers to take advantage of these property tax relief measures as they work toward recovery.  For further details, please visit our website at octreasurer.com/faq/property-tax-disaster-relief.                                         

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – The nation recognizes the week of January 27 to January 31 as National Identify Theft Awareness Week to provide information of interest to County consumers to protect their money.  

Chair Doug Chaffee and Treasurer Shari L. Freidenrich are leading the education efforts for Identify Theft Awareness Week. This is a yearly event promoted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with proclamations issued by the President of the United States.

“We live in an electronic age where every type of financial transaction is available and often conducted through the internet,” said Chair Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “It’s my hope that the public will educate themselves in order to avoid become a victim of identity theft. To facilitate these efforts, my office will be hosting a Senior Fraud Prevention event at the Stanton Community Center on Thursday, February 27 at 9:30 a.m. For more information about this event, please visit  https://d4.ocgov.com/senior-fraud-prevention-event.

“Identity theft and phishing is a massive problem in society today,” said Treasurer Shari Freidenrich. “Requesting a copy of your annual credit report is an excellent way to combat identify theft, go to consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports or call 1-877-322-8228  and reports can be requested weekly.” 

In 2023, the FTC received 2.6 million victim reports describing more losing more than $10 billion to fraud – a 14% jump in losses in one year.  Imposter scams, when someone pretended to be a trusted period or business, led to losses of $2.7 billion. 

During Identify Theft Awareness Week a flyer and materials will be distributed at the County Service Center and focus on identity theft, scams, small business and internet safety for children.  In addition, the FTC will be hosting a series of free online seminars and other events on how to avoid and recover from identify fraud, scan the QR code or go to consumer.ftc.gov/features/identity-theft-awareness-week.  The Service Center is located at 601 Ross St., Santa Ana. A parking map is available at octreasurer.gov/octaxparking. 

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