The Number Of Dead Trees In California Will Shock You

Jun 26, 2017 4:48 pm

California is now home to an estimated 102 million dead trees, a number shocking to even the most trained eyes.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this in California,” said Jeffrey Moore, an 18 year veteran of the US Forest Service.

“I never thought there would be a drought to this extent,”  Moore said.  “This drought has really pushed them over the edge and now the bark beetle population is taking advantage of trees that have been weakened by these multiple years of drought and just finishing them off.”

Moore and his team from the US Forest Service are spending the Summer crisscrossing the state doing tree mortality surveys from the air.  What they are seeing is large areas where dead trees outnumber live ones.

“Probably 70 to 80 percent of the whole mortality situation last year was mapped in … continue reading »

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River Safety During Peak Flows Throughout California

Jun 26, 2017 3:27 pm

Record snowfall in the higher elevations this past season is melting and as a result rivers around California are flowing faster, harder and colder than they ever have. Many of these rivers run through national forests, and that’s where rangers are asking visitors to be very careful, especially after recent deaths. Danger lurks and could lead to tragedy should you and your family let down your guard.

 

Links

US Forest Service

Caught on top of a waterfall: CHP rescues man on a rock before a 40-foot drop

‘Skip the dip’: Dangerous runoff claims 19 lives in California rivers

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SBA Tops $10 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans

Jun 23, 2017 3:13 pm

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Regional Administrator Michael Vallante of the U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that SBA has approved more than $10 million in federal disaster loans for California businesses and residents impacted by severe storms and flooding that occurred Feb. 1-25, 2017. According to Vallante, SBA has approved $4,738,800 for businesses and $5,283,300 for residents to help rebuild and recover from this disaster.

“Although the deadline to apply for property damage loans has expired, small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may continue to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business or nonprofit organization suffered any property damage,” Vallante said.

The interest rate is 3.15 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations … continue reading »

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Inaugural Meeting for Earthquake Early Warning

Jun 22, 2017 7:39 pm

Today was the first meeting of the California Earthquake Early Warning Advisory Board at the State Capitol. The board consists of leaders from the state agencies, academia, private and public industry, as well as other subject matter experts. Watch the Cal OES Quick Look video below for more on how the inaugural meeting went.

The board was formed after the Governor approved $10 million last year to increase financial support to the state’s seismic network, which consists of researching when and where earthquakes occur in California.  This governance structure serves as a venue for public input on development of the system, as well as oversees implementation of California’s Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) program and provides insight.

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Save Your Pet’s Life with These Simple Summer Tips

Jun 20, 2017 8:10 am

The five top things to monitor about your pets during the summer. Brought to you by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Sacramento SPCA.  Cal OES published this story five years ago but the information is still as valuable as ever.

 

 

 

Links

Sacramento SPCA

AVMA: Pets in Vehicles

PetMD: 7 Tips to Keep Your Pet Cool This Summer

 

Hot Weather Safety Tips

We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts:

California ISO Issues Statewide Flex Alert Due to Heat Wave

Jun 19, 2017 4:38 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 19, 2017

Contact: Media hotline at (888) 516-NEWS | ISOMedia@caiso.com

The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21. Consumers are urged to conserve electricity especially during the late afternoon when air conditioners typically are at peak use. Consumers can help avoid power outages by turning off all unnecessary lights, using major appliances before 2 p.m. and after 9 p.m. , and setting air conditioners to 78 degrees or higher. During times of high temperatures, demand on the power grid can be strained, as air conditioner use increases. The forecast peak usage for Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to exceed 47,000 megawatts each day in California ISO’s … continue reading »

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CDPH, Cal OES Warn of the Dangers of Excessive Heat

Jun 16, 2017 10:10 am

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) are reminding everyone to stay cool and hydrated as temperatures across the state continue to climb.

For the next several days, temperatures are expected to be 10–15 degrees above normal with many places topping 100 degrees.

“It’s going to be a hot week, and we would like everyone to protect themselves from the dangers of excessive heat,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “It is important that everyone stay cool, stay hydrated, stay inside and take other precautions to prevent heat-related illness.”

Extreme heat poses a substantial health risk, especially for vulnerable populations including young children, the elderly, those with chronic … continue reading »

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