SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. — As unprecedented drought conditions plague much of the West, reservoirs are running dry. Communities reliant on these sources for drinking water are tightening restrictions to preserve adequate supplies.

“This is the first time it’s been this severe," said Tom Colbert of Healdsburg, California. "It’s disheartening. We’ve had friends move out of California because of the drought and the wildfires.”

Located in California's Wine Country, the city implemented water restrictions in June to maintain its drinking water supply through 2021.

The mandate cut water use by 40 percent, limiting individuals to 74 gallons a day. It also banned the use of sprinklers and drip irrigation.

“One of the things that’s made this community very special is the vegetation: the trees, the grasses, the bushes. We want to keep them alive. We don’t want to run the risk of having them dry," said Colbert.

The neighborhood has been bringing in recycled water to preserve the landscaping. Colbert is among a dedicated group of volunteers distributing the supply each week.

“Some, like the Redwoods, require 1,000 gallons of water a week," said Colbert.

A free resource offered by the city, residents are responsible for sourcing or purchasing their own storage tanks, totes, or barrels.

“The City of Healdsburg is currently achieving a 55% reduction in water use and has been doing so for nearly two months,” said Healdsburg Mayor Evelyn Mitchell. “The City adopted high levels of conservation early in the summer because we knew storage in Lake Mendocino was an issue. We are hopeful the entire watershed will band together to achieve significant conservation as the timing of this year’s rain is uncertain.”

But in recent days, water levels dropped below 20,000 acre-feet of storage, falling short of a water conservation goal established to maintain adequate downstream flows for fisheries and human health and safety needs for municipal users.

"We don’t know what’s going to happen," said Colbert.

The ongoing climate threat is leading to creative conservation throughout the state.

“The heat has gotten intense. Intense, intense, especially this summer," said Rebecca Taylor, stylist and owner of Honey Hair Lab in Rancho Cucamonga. "And it never rains. I don’t remember the last time it truly properly rained.”

When she moved from Florida to California, Taylor became hyperaware of how precious each drop of water was. From rinsing hair to washing towels, salons use hundreds of gallons of water each week.

Adapting to the changing climate, she now uses single-use, biodegradable towels. Sustainably sourced, she says EasyDry towels are super absorbent and more practical. Fully biodegradable, the towels return to nature within 12 weeks.

“I don’t have to do laundry; I don’t have to use water," said Taylor. "I know I can make little things different in my routine. It’s worth a try, right?”

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. — As the intensity and frequency of natural disasters increase, more homeowners are being left uninsured.

Charlie Martin is among those unprotected this wildfire season. Owner of Chalk Hill Ranch and Toby Lane Vineyards in Sonoma, County, California, Martin took over the family horse boarding operation 20 years ago.

"I work harder now than when I had a job," said Martin.

Up until 2017, the threat of wildfires was hardly on his radar.

“When the Tubbs Fire came, first big fire, thought well, this was a one-off. We were very lucky because it only burned 50 acres of the back of our ranch," said Martin. “The Kincade Fire, on the other hand, was a come to Jesus experience. We weren’t expecting it. The trauma, the emotion, everything that took place after that, it took a long time for us to handle.”

While his structures were spared, the 2019 fire scorched much of his ranch. Now, the threat is a part of life.

"I get up every morning, go out the door, and look for smoke," said Martin. “You never lose the thought of fire. Once you’ve experienced it, it’s part of you.”

But hyper-aware, his team is now better prepared to respond in an emergency. Working alongside the nonprofit NorCal Livestock Evac, they have an evacuation plan in place to move the 50 horses in their care to safety.

Yet, they feel more exposed now than ever.

“We had an insurance carrier for 40 years, never a claim. Not one claim. Well, we made our first claim, and they paid that claim, and then they immediately canceled," said Martin. “I haven’t been able to find insurance since.”

From 2018 to 2019, the number of policies that insurance companies decided not to renew increased 31% in the state. And rates are rising as wildfires grow more frequent and destructive. The same is happening in states like Florida and Louisiana, hit hard by hurricanes and other disasters.

"I actually had one company tell me they could insure me for five times the amount of premium that I had on my original policy, and I didn't take that because it was just astronomical," said Martin. “It’s like highway robbery. Where’s the deal? You don’t expect a deal, but you expect something at least fair.”

A new California report outlines "climate insurance" strategies. Mandated by state law, a working group of environmental advocates, researchers, and insurance experts was created to make policy recommendations to reduce the costs from wildfires, extreme heat, and flooding.

Among the recommendations, consider insurance policies for entire communities to guarantee that all residents have some degree of coverage.

It also recommends the state explore nature-based insurance solutions such as investments in wetlands and floodplains to reduce flood risk and the use of ecologically managed, open space buffers to protect from wildfires.

But until strategies become real-life solutions, more homeowners will find themselves uninsured—some relying on a higher power for protection.

“You can see this part of the hill was a very hot fire. But you see this bench here on the right? It didn’t touch that bench," Martin said, referencing a bench dedicated to his late mother. "So, we had to think she was sitting on that bench during the fire, saying, 'Not on my watch.'”

He says nearby homes on the market are going unsold.

“We’re just hoping something will turn around," said Martin. "I’m staying. If I don’t get insurance, where am I going to go?"