The City of Sacramento’s Office of Emergency Management on Sept. 11 responded to a request for N95 masks from the Sacramento City Unified School District to help staff cope with poor air quality as they distribute meals to students.
“The City is prepared to provide enduring support to ensure dedicated workers across our community have the protective equipment they need to sustain food distribution programs throughout this poor air quality event,” said Daniel Bowers, the City’s director of Emergency Management.
According to Cal Fire, there are 28 major wildfires burning in California, causing widespread smoke to blanket much of the state, including the Sacramento region.
The School District distributes meals at 44 sites across Sacramento to feed students who are distance-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s also important to note that simple face coverings intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are not effective at reducing airborne smoke particles from entering the lungs,” said Bowers. “An N95 mask or other approved particulate-filtering mask can be much more protective during poor air quality events like this one.”
The National Weather Service expects “widespread haze” and smoke to remain in Sacramento until mid-Sunday.