California Attack     

Bear Attack on Eldorado National Forest

New Mexico Attack     

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTD5RsGPa3Q

Public lands managers note such incidents are on the upswing. Cheryl Carrothers, Regional Wildlife Program Leader for the USFS Pacific Southwest Region, issued an email heads up to regional forests and district rangers on July 2nd, just before the holiday weekend:

“I just wanted to make sure you were all aware.  We have had multiple incidents with bears this year and the frequency is increasing.  Please pass on our concerns to your folks and forest visitors.  Keeping safe distances between bears and humans is a priority, restricting access to food and other attractants is the primary way to ensure this happens!”

We’re posting two videos we found on YouTube below.  Obviously, the views expressed are those of the authors and not this supervisor. Confirm their methods with a ranger before you go and be prepared. And it goes without saying that if you live up here, precautions aren’t just for campers…

Remember, wild things aren’t tame. Be careful, will ya?

A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR: how to take care of your food    

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvzvfDmzMI

SURVIVAL 101: according to Backpacker Magazine, what to do if you encounter a bear    

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dfd18Zfv2U

Tuolumne Cancelled, please call to schedule an appointment for an alternate day.
Weds., Mar. 3, 10:00-11:30 am, Tuolumne Parks and Recreation District Office.

Twain Harte Cancelled this month, please call to schedule an appointment for an alternate day. Weds. Mar. 10,  10-11:30 am, Twain Harte CSD Office

Mi-Wuk Village
Weds., Mar. 17, Cancelled this month, please call to schedule an appointment for an alternate day, Mi-Wuk Village Library (Little Library in the Woods).

Office hours can be scheduled in other communities and at other times, as desired. Please call Teri at 533-5525 to arrange.

PRESS RELEASE

Date:               Monday, January 25, 2010; 10:00 am
Contact:          Kathleen K Rustrum, OES Coordinator, (209) 533-5511

Sonora - According to today’s report for Tuolumne County from the Forecast Desk at the National Weather Service, we are still under a Winter Storm Warning until Tuesday, January 26^th at 4 am. We expect rain to pick up in the late morning through the afternoon amounting to under 1” of precipitation in the lower elevations.

Snow is expected today from 5000’ upwards, lowering in elevation tonight to possibly as low as the 3000’ elevation, for a light dusting. Higher elevations could get as much as 1’ of new snow from this storm. We expect today to be breezy with wind gusts up to 40-50 mph at the mountain crest.  The forecast is for a shower or two tomorrow, then a drying trend through Friday, January 29^th.

Regarding power outages

Mi-Wuk Village is PG&E’s current focus with 1634 customers without power.  PG&E now has 30 crews of 4-5 persons each plus vegetation management staff in Tuolumne County working around the clock to restore power. Helicopter assessments were made over the weekend. Many pole replacements are in inaccessible areas and need to be replaced by staff hiking in and replacing poles by hand. Other poles are more accessible and more easily accessed by snow tractors.

PG&E will be re-energizing power lines in the Mi-Wuk area today at 10:30 am and should be able to further assess where power is still out later on this morning. We hope to update the community with PG&E’s action plan later on today.

Mi-Wuk Fire Station, located at 24247 Highway 108, next to Big Daddy’s Restaurant, has been turned into a warming station for those without power.  You are welcome to stay for a couple of hours or overnight as there are cots and blankets available, provided by the Red Cross.  Also, oxygen tanks are available for those who need theirs refilled. Please contact the Mi-Wuk Fire Station directly if you have this need: 209.586.5256

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are reminded to:

• Reduce or eliminate unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather.
• Have emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, ‘live’ batteries, prescription medications, etc.
• Check in on neighbors who may be elderly or have special needs.
• Continue to prepare for the potential of more power outages due to wind, downed trees, and resultant downed power lines.
• Check to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those animal that may live outdoors.
• Listen to your local radio stations (and TV stations) for changing weather conditions.
• And, please use 911 only when it is vitally necessary.

Sandbag Resources

County Emergency Services, in conjunction with County Public Works still has three locations for emergency sand to assist County citizens with mitigating flooding at their homes or businesses.  County residents may pick up sand at the following locations:

• Columbia Airport; Airport Rd at the edge of the paved parking lot
• The City of Tuolumne; on the corner of Baker and Birch Streets
• Jamestown Road Yard; 7^th Avenue, behind Jamestown Elementary

Please bring your own shovel and bags to fill. Empty sandbags may be purchased at any of our local hardware or ranch supply stores.

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Wind and heavy snow knocked down trees, some of which are entangled in power lines and across roads. PG&E crews had to be called off for a time due to the numerous downed (and live) power lines. They are out in force now.

Restoring power in Tuolumne County is a #1 priority for PG&E. Some communities (Twain Harte and communities above in the Hwy 108 corridor) have been without power for several days.

PG&E has assigned 8-10 crews (of 4-5 people each) to remove trees that are entangled in power lines in District 3.

Public Works crews are working on snowplowing District 3 County roads that do not have downed trees and/or electric lines across them. But Public Works can’t move in to take care of some impacted roads until PG&E has finished its work.

If your power is out, it’s likely you won’t be able to read this but if you can, please try to be patient until PG&E and Public Works get to your area. If you have an emergency, by all means call 9-1-1.

And if you do get out, you should check on your neighbors and make sure you and they have food, water, and anything else you might need for a few more days. 

Here’s hoping the next storm won’t be quite so ferocious.

Date:               Tuesday, January 19, 2010; 8:30 am
Contact:          Kathleen K Rustrum, OES Coordinator, (209) 533-5511

Sonora - According to the Forecast Desk at the National Weather Service this morning, we are still under a Winter Storm Warning until tomorrow night. We will be experiencing light precipitation this morning which will pick up by mid-day. Showers will continue through Wednesday or Thursday.

Currently, we are experiencing wind gusts of 40-50 mph, which will increase up to 60 mph through today, but will wind down tonight. Then the wind is expected to pick up again to 60-65 mph at the highest elevations with tomorrow’s incoming storm in the late morning.

Snow levels are at about 4500’ right now and will drop tonight to 3500-4000’.  There is a possibility of another foot of snow through tonight at the higher elevations.

So far, we have received between 2”-4” of rain in the County, depending on the elevation.  For the storms that have taken place from last Sunday, January 17^th through this coming Friday, January 22^nd, the expectation is for 4-7” rain overall and 4’-7’ of new snow overall.

A high pressure system may move in Saturday and Sunday giving us a reprieve from the storms for the weekend. This will probably be followed by more storms next week.

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are reminded to:

• Reduce or eliminate unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather.
• Have emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, ‘live’ batteries, prescription medications, etc.
• Check in on neighbors who may have special needs – in advance of the storm.
• Ready for the potential of a power outages due to wind, downed trees, etc.
• Check to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those animal that may live outdoors.
• Listen to your local radio stations (and TV stations) for changing weather conditions.
• And, please use 911 only when it is vitally necessary.

 Sandbag Resources

County Emergency Services, in conjunction with County Public Works, has established three locations for emergency sand to assist County citizens with mitigating flooding at their homes or businesses.  County residents may pick up sand at the following locations: 

• Columbia Airport; Airport Rd at the edge of the paved parking lot
• The City of Tuolumne; on the corner of Baker and Birch Streets
• Jamestown Road Yard; 7^th Avenue, behind Jamestown Elementary 

Please bring your own shovel and bags to fill. Empty sandbags may be purchased at any of our local hardware or ranch supply stores.

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Yosemite during the ’97 flood. “Mike Shenton sandbags the rock wall at the Arch Rock parking area. We eventually abandoned this idea.” http://www.flickr.com/photos/us_army_rolling_along/ / CC BY 2.0

PRESS RELEASE
Multiple Storm Alert

For: Martin Luther King Weekend through Thursday, January 21, 2010
Date:  Friday, January 15, 2010
Contact: Kathleen K Rustrum, OES Coordinator   
(209) 533-5511

Sonora – The Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services would like to inform Tuolumne County residents and visitors that the National Weather Service reports there are back to back storms on their way over the next two weeks.

There is a chance of precipitation on Saturday and Saturday night, January 16-17^th, 2010, however this system is expected to be weak. After that, we have a wet week in store  – Sunday, January 17th through at least Thursday the 21^st. 

The forecast is for a series of systems moving through northern California with a deep upper level trough off the California coast and the jet stream shifted south into southern California.  Significant precipitation is expected with these systems. Precipitation amounts through Thursday may be from 6 to 9 inches in the mountains.

Snow levels are expected to drop to 3000 to 4500 feet in the north and around 4000 to 5500 feet over the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. Periods of moderate to strong southerly winds are also expected with these systems.

Now is the time to prepare! Residents are advised to clean out your house gutters and nearby ditches.  Take appropriate measures around homes that are located in areas prone to flooding with sandbags.  

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are also reminded to:

• Reduce or eliminate unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather.
• Have emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, ‘live’ batteries, prescription medications, etc.
• Check in on neighbors who may have special needs – in advance of the storm.
• Ready for the potential of a power outages due to wind, downed trees, etc.
• Check to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those animal that live outdoors.
• Listen to local radio stations (and TV stations) for changing weather conditions.
• And, please use 911 only when it is vitally necessary.

Sandbag Resources

County Emergency Services, in conjunction with County Public Works, has established locations for emergency sand to mitigate flooding at residents’ homes or businesses.  County residents may pick up sand at the following locations on Friday, January 15th:

• Columbia Airport; Airport Rd at the edge of the paved parking lot
• The City of Tuolumne; on the corner of Baker and Birch Streets
• Jamestown Road Yard; 7^th Avenue, behind Jamestown Elementary

Please bring your own shovel and bags to fill. Empty sandbags may be purchased at any of our local hardware or ranch supply stores.

County Fire, Cal Fire, Public Works, Safety and Law Enforcement personnel are currently on stand-by, preparing for this storm. 

###

Issued by The National Weather Service
Sacramento, CA
2:20 pm PST, Tue., Dec. 8, 2009

… FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM PST WEDNESDAY…

A FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND ADJACENT FOOTHILLS BELOW 2000 FEET FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM PST WEDNESDAY.

MINIMUM TEMPERATURES EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE LOWER TO MID 20S… THOUGH THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR COLDER LOCATIONS IN THE NORTH VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS TO DIP INTO THE UPPER TEENS.

* IMPACTS: LOCATIONS BELOW 2000 FEET DO NOT REGULARLY EXPERIENCE THESE COLD TEMPERATURES. BLACK ICE MAY FORM OVERNIGHT AS RECENT RAIN AND MELTING SNOW FREEZES ON ROAD SURFACES.

* SENSITIVE VEGETATION MAY BE HARMED. PETS AND LIVESTOCK THAT MAY BE SENSITIVE TO THE COLD SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO PROTECTIVE AREAS.

* POTENTIAL FOR SOME LOCATIONS TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH EXPOSED WATERLINES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL CREATE BLACK ICE AND KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

FYI… be careful! Between the slick roads and the falling trees, it’s dangerous outside.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Sacramento, CA
10:01 am PST, Mon., Dec. 7, 2009

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING.
* SNOW LEVEL: STILL NEAR THE SURFACE THIS MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT: STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 16 INCHES FOR THE FOOTHILLS WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WITH 2 TO 3 FEET LIKELY ABOVE 3000 FEET FOR THE WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA.

* OTHER IMPACTS: SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AT TIMES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD… AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

More Information

… WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY…

.A WEATHER SYSTEM MOVING INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL CONTINUE TO BRING HEAVY SNOW TO THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AND FOOTHILLS TODAY. LOW SNOW LEVELS… BELOW 1000 FEET WILL CONTINUE. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SOME LOCAL SNOW TO ACCUMULATE ALONG THE EDGES OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY ABOVE ABOUT 500 FEET ELEVATION THIS MORNING… MAINLY EAST OF STOCKTON AND MODESTO. PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF IN THE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 BY NOON AND IN THE SOUTH BY THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

For more info, go to the Weather Channel at: http://www.weather.com/weather/alerts/localalerts/USCA1167?phenomena=WS&significance=W&areaid=CAZ067&office=KSTO&etn=0008&from=36hr_winterWarn_golf

Some critical county departments will remain open (see below). Inconvenient? Yes! Necessary? For sure!

As I am sure you remember, this doesn’t mean a paid vacation for county employees. This means they will not be getting paid and most county buildings won’t be heated (or open) to save a signficant amount of money due to this year’s rough budget. Thanks to all employees (and electeds) who voluntarily gave up work days to stretch the county budget.

******

County furloughs. What does this mean as far as availability of County services? When combined with the usual Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years County holiday days of November 26 and 27, December 24 and 25 and January 1, all County offices and services will be closed between November 23 and November 27, and between December 21 and January 1 with the following exceptions:

Emergency Services – Sheriff, Fire, and Ambulance

• Available as usual – 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Office functions (e.g. Civil Division of the Sheriff’s Office) will be closed

 Snow Plowing

• Services will be provided as needed throughout scheduled furlough periods.

Health & Human Services

• Child Support Services – Open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on November 23-25; December 21-23 & December 28-31.
• Social Services – Open with limited staffing
• Public Health – Open November 23-25.

Behavioral Health

• Crisis Services will be available by calling 533-7000

Tuolumne General Medical Facility: Skilled Nursing Facility

• Available as usual – 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Fiscal Services – Clerk/Auditor/Controller, Treasurer/Tax Collector & Recorder

• Open November 23-25 from 9:00 am–1:00 pm
• Open December 21-23 & December 28-31 from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Animal Control

• Open November 23-25, but closed on November 28.
• Emergency on-call available November 26 & 27.
• Open December 21-23 & December 28-31 & January 2.
• Emergency on-call available December 24 & 25 and January 1.

Office of County Counsel, District Attorney’s Office and Office of the Public Defender

• County Counsel – Staff on-call to handle unscheduled court appearances.
• District Attorney’s Office – Open November 23-25 & December 21-23 & December 28-31.
• Public Defender’s Office – Open November 23-25 & December 21-23 & December 28-31.

If members of the public have questions about office closures prior to the furlough days, they should call the appropriate department directly or the County Administrator’s Office at 533-5511. If an emergency need for service arises between November 23 and November 27 or December 21 and January 1, please call the Sheriff’s Department at 533-5815 who will contact the appropriate department staff on your behalf.

Moisture from the remnants of super typhoon Melor has the potential to produce a significant amount of precipitation for the interior of northern California Tuesday and Wednesday along with strong winds. Recent burn areas are especially susceptible to mud-slides and debris flow with the amount of precipitation that is expected. Foothill areas could see 3-4 inches and mountain areas up to 6+ inches. Winds of 25-35 mph are expected with gusts to 45 mph. Snow levels are high, at 7,500 feet Monday night before they rise dramatically to 9,000 by Tuesday.

Flash flooding and mudslides are a possibility in this past summer’s burn regions, such as the Mt. Knight fire area and the Big Meadow Fire area in the vicinity of Yosemite. Excessive amounts of rain of this magnitude may produce flooding in locations that normally do not flood during a normal early autumn rainfall.

How to Prepare

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are reminded to prepare for this storm by:

• Reducing or eliminating unnecessary travel during the storm period;
• Having emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, live batteries, prescription medications, etc.;
• Checking in on neighbors who may have special needs – in advance of the storm;
• Readying for the potential of a power outages due to wind, downed trees, etc.;
• Removing debris from gutters and drainage areas; placing sandbags out before the storm arrives in flood-prone zones;
• Checking to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those animal that may live outdoors; and
• Listening to your local radio stations (and TV stations) for changing weather conditions.

And, please use 911 only when it is vitally necessary.

Sandbag Resources

County Emergency Services, in conjunction with County Public Works has established locations for emergency sand to assist County citizens with mitigating flooding at their homes or businesses. County residents may pick up sand at the following locations* after 4 pm on Monday, October 12, 2009:

• Columbia Road Yard; North Airport Rd (near the Airport);
• Tuolumne City Fire Department; 18690 Main Street, Tuolumne; and
• Jamestown Road Yard; 7th Avenue, behind Jamestown Elementary.

* Please bring your own shovel and bags to fill.

The County has confirmed that there are amply supplies of empty sandbags for purchase at the following locations:

Twain Harte Hardware
Andy’s Hardware
J.S. West
Orchard Supply Hardware
Hurst Ranch Supply

County Fire, Cal Fire, Public Works, Safety and Law Enforcement personnel are currently on stand-by, preparing for this storm.

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