THE STRONG JET STREAM THAT’S BROUGHT IN AT LEAST FIVE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS TO THE STATE IN RECENT WEEKS ISN’T DONE YET WITH US YET. FORECASTERS WARN THAT NEW RAINSTORMS AND MORE POTENTIAL FLOODING ARE LIKELY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY . THE RUSSIAN RIVER BEGAN RECEDING YESTERDAY AFTER IT PEAKED JUST BELOW FLOOD STAGE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. HOWEVER, SUSTAINED RAINFALL TODAY AND TOMORROW IS EXPECTED TO DRIVE IT UP AGAIN TO ABOVE THE 32-FOOT FLOOD STAGE IN GUERNEVILLE. THE RIVER COULD RISE AGAIN FOLLOWING A WETTER SYSTEM WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COME THROUGH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
SOME 5000 PG&E WORKERS HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB RESPONDING TO POWER OUTAGES SINCE THE STORMS BEGAN ON NEW YEAR’S EVE. THIS IS THE LARGEST STORM RESPONSE IN COMPANY HISTORY WITH CONTRACTORS AND MUTUAL AID COMING IN FROM SEVERAL STATES AND MORE ON THE WAY. PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC SAYS POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED TO MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION CUSTOMERS SINCE JANUARY 1ST. AS OF TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MORE THAN 80,000 CUSTOMERS WERE STILL WITHOUT POWER. WITH MORE STORMS ON THE WAY, MANY MORE CUSTOMERS WILL LIKELY FACE OUTAGES, AS WELL.
A BIT OF RELIEF FOR MANY CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE SEVERE WEATHER THIS MONTH WHO WILL BE GIVEN EXTRA TIME TO FILE THEIR INCOME TAX RETURNS FOR 2022. THE IRS SAYS THAT COUNTIES COVERED BY A FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION WILL HAVE UNTIL MAY 15 TO FILE RETURNS. IF THE ADDRESS ON FILE WITH THE IRS FALLS WITHIN A DISASTER AREA, SUCH AS MENDOCINO COUNTY, RELIEF WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY IN PLACE WITHOUT TAXPAYERS NEEDING TO ASK OR ALERT THE AGENCY OF LATE FILING. THE MAY DEADLINE APPLIES TO EVERYTHING THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE SUBJECT TO THE APRIL 15TH DEADLINE INCLUDING TAX-FAVORED CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN IRA OR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT. FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK THE IRS WEBSITE’S DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES PAGE.
THE SEVERE WEATHER STORM EVENTS HAVE CLAIMED ANOTHER LIFE IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. ACCORDING TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 68-YEAR OLD SUSAN STEVER DIED EARLY MONDAY MORNING WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK BY A TREE THAT FELL INTO HER HOME WHILE SHE WAS ASLEEP. STEVER’S LIVED IN THE 27000 BLOCK OF NORTH HIGHWAY 1, NORTH OF THE CITY OF FORT BRAGG.
WITH STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS CONTINUING TO HAMMER THE STATE FOR A THIRD WEEK, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IS URGING EVERYONE TO NOT LET THEIR GUARD DOWN YET. THE GOVERNOR SAID HIS MESSAGE IS SIMPLE…BE HYPER VIGILANT AND HEED THE ADVICE OF COUNTY OFFICIALS. MORE HEAVY RAINFALL IS FORECAST FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGHOUT THE DAY THE WEEKEND. RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED TO CALL 2-1-1 OR 3-1-1 IF THEY NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS. OF COURSE, IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, DIAL 9-1-1. ALSO BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS INCLUDING WARNINGS AND EVACUATION NOTICES AT CALALERTS.ORG.
THE MENDOCINO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION HAS ANNOUNCED MORE SCHOOL CLOSURES TODAY DUE TO THE STORMS. TODAY’S CLOSURES INCLUDE: PACIFIC COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, MANCHESTER ELEMENTARY AND POINT ARENA SCHOOLS. PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOL CLOSURES IN THE COUNTY ARE UPDATED AT MCOE.US.
A TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL IS RECOVERING AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE NEAR THE FAMOUS WILLITS ARCH. THE GIRL WAS HIT WHEN SHE DARTED ACROSS WILLITS MAIN STREET TO MEET UP WITH A FRIEND AND SUFFERED CUTS ON HER HANDS AND POSSIBLE LACERATIONS TO HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WHICH STRUCK HER WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY TEN MILES PER HOUR. THE MOMENTUM KNOCKED HER TO THE GROUND AND FORCED HER TO ROLL UNDERNEATH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH FORTUNATELY DID NOT CAUSE FURTHER INJURIES.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS THAT ARE STILL TO COME MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO RESOLVE THE DROUGHT. ACCORDING TO LAKE COUNTY NEWS, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES DIRECTOR, KARLA NEMETH SAID THAT CALIFORNIA IS IN THE MIDST OF A DROUGHT AND FLOOD EMERGENCY SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IT’S TOO SOON TO KNOW HOW THE SERIES OF STORMS WILL IMPACT THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVERALL. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE LATEST ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORM THIS WEEK IS EXPECTED TO LAST LONGER AND HIT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SOMEWHAT HARDER.
ON WEDNESDAY THE CALIFORNIA NEVADA RIVER FORECAST CENTER REPORTED THAT TWENTY RIVERS AND WATER BODIES ARE ABOVE MONITOR STAGE AND SIX OF THEM ARE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. RUSSIAN RIVER IN HOPLAND AND GUERNEVILLE ARE AMONG THOSE IN FLOOD STAGE LEVEL. ACCORDING TO THE MANAGER OF THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES DIVISION OF FLOOD MANAGEMENT, LEVELS IN HOPLAND ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AROUND FLOOD STAGE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
LAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO’VE LOST POWER OR SIMPLY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE ELEMENTS ARE REMINDED THAT COUNTY LIBRARIES AND PEER SUPPORT CENTERS OFFERED BY LAKE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE OPEN TO THEM…PROVIDED THAT THOSE LOCATIONS CONTINUE TO HAVE POWER. THESE ARE NOT FORMAL SHELTERS AND NO OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE OFFERED BUT THEY DO OFFER A PLACE FOR THOSE WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. LOCATIONS INCLUDE: THE LAKEPORT LIBRARY, REDBUD LIBRARY IN CLEARLAKE, MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY AND UPPER LAKE LIBRARY. THE COUNTY PEER SUPPORT CENTERS INCLUDE THE BIG OAK CENTER IN CLEARLAKE OAKS, CIRCLE OF NATIVE MINDS CULTURAL CENTER IN LAKEPORT, HARBOR ON MAIN IN LAKEPORT AND LA VOZ DE LA ESPERANZA WELLNESS CENTER IN LAKEPORT.
NEARLY 800 LAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE NOW BEEN ENROLLED IN A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WITH A $30 PER MONTH DISCOUNT OFF OF THEIR BROADBAND SERVICE. MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS SAYS IT’S NOW ENROLLED MORE THAN 40,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE ACP OR, AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM. NOW THAT MORE ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ACP BENEFIT, MEDIACOM SAYS THEY’LL EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS VISIT A MEDIACOM SERVICE CENTER OR CALL THEM AT 855-330-6918.
NEARLY THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS SEEN RAINFALL TOTALS BETWEEN 400 AND 600% ABOVE AVERAGE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND WE’RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. MORE HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY TODAY THANKS TO YET ANOTHER ATMOSPHERIC RIVER IMPACTING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND PRECIPITATION EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. FORECASTERS SAY THE WORST OF THE STORM WHICH BEGAN ON SUNDAY HAS MOVED THROUGH THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE, BUT WE’LL STILL SEE PERIODS OF INTENSE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO BE ON ALERT FOR MORE HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS. THAT MEANS WE COULD SEE MORE TREES KNOCKED DOWN AND RAPIDLY RISING WATERS NEAR CREEKS AND STREAMS.
WITH THE RECENT EARTHQUAKES AND ONGOING SEVERE WEATHER, DON’T FALL VICTIM TO DISASTER RELIEF SCAMS. IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA SCAMS WHICH CLAIM TO OFFER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN RELIEF THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. INTENDED VICTIMS ARE ASKED TO PAY A DELIVERY FEE TO RECEIVE A RELIEF CHECK. KEEP IN MIND THAT FEDERAL AND STATE WORKERS WILL NEVER ASK FOR NOR ACCEPT MONEY AND NO ONE IS REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
THE STRONG JET STREAM THAT’S BROUGHT IN AT LEAST FIVE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS TO THE STATE IN RECENT WEEKS ISN’T DONE YET WITH US YET. FORECASTERS WARN THAT NEW RAINSTORMS AND MORE POTENTIAL FLOODING ARE LIKELY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE RUSSIAN RIVER BEGAN RECEDING YESTERDAY AFTER IT PEAKED JUST BELOW FLOOD STAGE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. HOWEVER, SUSTAINED RAINFALL TODAY AND TOMORROW IS EXPECTED TO DRIVE IT UP AGAIN AND REACH ABOVE THE 32-FOOT FLOOD STAGE IN GUERNEVILLE. THE RIVER COULD RISE AGAIN FOLLOWING A WETTER SYSTEM WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COME THROUGH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
ON TUESDAY SEVERAL CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMEN REINTRODUCED A BILL THAT FAILED TO PASS LAST SESSION WHICH WOULD EXEMPT THOUSAND OF FIRE VICTIMS RECEIVING COMPENSATION FROM THE FIRE VICTIM TRUST FROM PAYING FEDERAL TAX ON THAT INCOME. IF PASSED THE BILL WOULD NOT ONLY EXEMPT SETTLEMENT MONEY FROM TAX LIABILITY BUT ALSO INCLUDE ATTORNEY FEES. THE BIPARTISAN ACTION INCLUDES FUNDS ADMINISTERED FOR THE OCTOBER 2017 SULPHUR FIRE THAT IMPACTED CLEARLAKE AND CLEARLAKE OAKS. THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BEHIND THE BILL SAYS IT SHOULD’VE BEEN PASSED LAST YEAR AND IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS SESSION.
WEATHER PERMITTING THE KELSEYVILLE ARTISAN MARKET WILL GO ON AS PLANNED THIS SUNDAY. THE SEASONAL POP-UP IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE FROM 10AM TO 3PM AT THE KELSEYVILLE EVENT CENTER ON THIRD STREET. THE MARKET WILL OFFER WARES FROM MORE THAN 20 DESIGNERS AND MAKERS FROM ALL OVER LAKE COUNTY. AND THE KELSEYVILLE SENIORS WILL BE ON HAND, SERVING DELICIOUS TREATS TO BENEFIT THE EVENT CENTER AND KELSEYVILLE SENIORS. OF COURSE, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE FORECAST. THE POP UPS TAKE PLACE THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH THROUGH MAY.
WATER LEVELS AT LAKE MENDOCINO ARE UP SUBSTANTIALLY THANKS TO THE SERIES OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS WHICH HAVE POUNDED THE REGION. THAT MAY LEAD TO A WATER RELEASE AS EARLY AS THURSDAY TO PREVENT MORE FLOODING. LAKE MENDOCINO AND SONOMA LAKE AND THEIR DAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULATING NEARLY 20% OF THE RUSSIAN RIVER WATERSHED WHICH HAS FLOODED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN TODAY AND EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR CONDITIONS IN THE AREA. ON TUESDAY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OBSERVATION STATIONS ACROSS LAKE COUNTY RECORDED LEVELS IN UPPER LAKE AT ONE INCH OF RAIN. HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE LEVELS WERE AT 2 INCHES AND LEVELS SOUTH OF LAKE PILLSBURY WERE AT 2.25 INCHES. RAIN AND RUNOFF FROM PREVIOUS STORMS HAVE PUSHED UP THE LEVEL AT CLEAR LAKE JUST OVER 1.0 FEET RUMSEY AS OF LATE TUESDAY. THE SEVENTH ATMOSPHERIC RIVER WILL BE MORE FOCUSED ON THE NORTH COAST AND WILL ARRIVE ON THURSDAY. THE EIGHTH IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON SATURDAY AND A FINAL ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENT IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE AREA NEXT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH. FOLLOWING THAT EVENT, CALIFORNIA COULD POTENTIALLY SEE A WELCOME WEEK OF DRY WEATHER.
