Stan Russell is posting updates on conditions in Big Sur through this first storm of the season. Check it and bookmark it here:
http://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/
Also, Kate Novoa on her blog:
Before the Storm
With upcoming storms on the way, it is time to take stock and make sure we have things in place. Here is a little reminder list of things to get ready before any storm.
For further planning lists which include items needed for longer periods of time, please see the Disaster Checklist and the Shelter in Place Checklist.
(If you are a homeowner with renters, I suggest giving this list to your renters so that they may be informed and self-sufficient.)
Know alternate routes in case roads go out.
Check in with family and neighbors- make sure you all know your disaster plan, including:
1.Where to meet if your road becomes inaccessible.
2. What out of town number to call if local phone lines are down or tied up. (At times of disaster, the local phone lines are often tied up, but out of town numbers are reachable.)
3. What items you will take/things you will do if you are evacuated. See our Evacuation Checklist.
Bring in/cover all wood.
Clear out culverts.
Wind and rainproof your home- take down all umbrellas, check for items that might fall in big gusts, shut all windows, etc.
Fill all gas tanks.
Take out your phone that does not require power.
Check on battery powered items such as flashlights and radios.
Make candles and lighters easily accessible.
Make sure you have extra water, food, baby items, and prescription medications. In the event of a debris flow, those with spring water may find that water quality is compromised.
Check on generators.
Stock up on pet supplies including food and litter.
Know where your first aid kit is.
Prepare comfort and entertainment items that do not require power.
Make sure you have survival items in your car. See our Keep in Your Car Checklist.
Stay safe and enjoy this part of Big Sur life!
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The National Weather Service is predicting that extremely high levels of rainfall will occur starting Monday night (see official forecast). This includes high winds and as much as 8-10 inches of rain. If this weather occurs as predicted there is a high probability that flooding, debris flows, and power outages will also occur throughout the county.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Big+Sur&state=CA&site=MTR&textField1=36.2703&textField2=-121.806&e=0
Please be alert to National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories. Be prepared to take actions necessary to protect yourself and your property.
This information should be disseminated to all levels of community and response organizations.
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The Ponderosa Fire started started on or near a trail along Slippery Rock on Negro Creek near Ponderosa Campground. As of Sunday afternoon, WildlandFire posted this: “Per Southops: Ponderosa CA-LPF-2563, The fire has burned 250 acres with a potential to triple in size. Ponderosa and Nacimiento Campgrounds have been evacuated. The Nacimiento-Ferguson Road has been closed. Smith’s Type II Incident Management Team has been assigned to the fire.”
For ongoing updates, go to http://bigsurkate.wordpress.com/
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News Release
USDA Forest Service
Los Padres National Forest
Date: July 1, 2009 Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Goleta, CA 93117
CONTACT: Lynn Olson (831) 385-5434 www.r5.fs.fed.us/lospadres
Joe Pasinato (805) 961-5745
Forest Service will Conduct Prescribed Burn along Highway 1
The Forest Service plans to conduct a prescribed burn on the Brazil Ranch in the Los Padres National Forest, 13.5 miles south of Carmel. Weather permitting; the 78 acre burn will occur on Tuesday, July 7. Smoke will be visible for several miles.
The purpose of the prescribed burn is to suppress undesirable weed vegetation and stimulate native plant growth. The goal is to preserve the scenic value and maintain the native plant diversity on the Brazil Ranch coastal terrace.
Highway 1 may be affected during the prescribed burn. Forest visitors are advised to call the Monterey Ranger District, at 831-386-0751, for current information.
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This report from Reid Fisher, a geologist and board member of the CPOA. Thanks Reid – great information here.
Hello Everyone,
FYI, as a followup to a field trip with Caltrans personnel. As you probably saw from all the orange shirts and reflective vests in town, Caltrans engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers from around the state are just wrapping up a conference focussing in large part on debris flow and rockfall hazards and mitigation. I was very fortunate in being invited to accompany them on their field day review of Big Sur debris flow and rockfall mitigation sites/issues. I came away very impressed with the energy and dedication of these folks, as we have been by Lance Gorman and Steve Balaban. A couple of subjective observations from an outside-the-agency geologist:
* The speed with which Caltrans hit the ground appears to have been partly a result of early “calls” on the level of disaster, and in establishing a “corridor” within which problems could be anticipated, rather than having to first identify specific sites, then request authorization/funding, etc. The corridor concept is new. There was a lot of creative thinking from bottom to top on this effort, and it really paid off.
* The ability to consider working outside the right-of-way may also be a first in the state. It made a huge difference, dramatically opening up the possible approaches to include work that made much more common sense than strict ROW projects. The early input from the local residents, saying in essence “go for it” helped this to happen. Caltrans really appreciated the positive reception and support they got from locals who are very aware of the issues these projects address from previous fires and wet years.
* It appears that there was strong support by local reps to the state and fed level, which helped in getting agencies to pull in the same direction, and helped in funding.
* Caltrans anticipates a significantly elevated debris flow potential for the next at least 3 to 5 years (this is in line with independent work by USGS and others, who project something in that same 3 to 5 to 10 year time frame, depending on weather). After that time period lapses, Caltrans’ intent is to take down the debris flow barriers, which was news to me (they’ll be reused elsewhere). It will be important for CPOA and others to track debris flow occurrence (and rainfall intensities when these events are triggered), and general slope recovery in order to gage the pace of recovery and know whether 3, 5, or 10 years will be required for substantial recovery. The slopes look amazingly green now, but they are by no means recovered. Caltrans has limited rain gages in place, with mini-dataloggers. They do not provide an alert, but they do permit backcalculation of what it took to generate a debris flow event, thus helping to sharpen and focus forecasts and alerts. At $100 each these instruments could be installed elsewhere in the Big Sur area with volunteers to periodically download and forward data.
* There is a recognition on the part of other agencies that landsliding is a natural, ongoing (though episodic at the human scale) process by which coastal sediment is replenished. Intercepting and interrupting this through landslide mitigation is an alteration of this process, and there is attention being paid into how to reintroduce this material into the drainages in a way that approximates the natural regime (rather than trucking to distant disposal sites).
* Access to debris flow barrier systems for effective, rapid cleanout will be essential in the lifespan of these structures. It’ll be tempting for things to get stored, parked and piled on the ramps and landings that are built into these installations. That’s it for now..
Reid
G. Reid Fisher
PACIFIC GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
16055-D Caputo Drive
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
T 408-778-2818 x 402
F 408-779-6879
CPOA Board
info@cpoabigsur.org
Serving the Big Sur Coast for over 45 years.
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Word is that the fire is in the “mop up” stage. Here a link to some photos taken by Nancy Sanders
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Spoke with Andrew Madsen, Public Affairs Officer for Los Padres National Forest. He says the fire has burned into a drainage and that only one outbuilding is being threatened.
CHP website is stating Air Support is enroute:
6:41PM PER LOS PADRES, H70 CAME OVER THEIR AIR, ETA 20 MINS // INFO ONLY (H70 is the CHP helicopter)
Fire is burning South. Winds are pretty calm. 2MPH from the north.
People with visuals are saying the smoke has died down a lot. Looks like its in control with about 3 acres burned.
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A fire is being reported. Information is still sketchy. CHP is reporting:
5:31PM 1039 LOS PADRES, ETA 1HR AWAY
5:29PM RP CAN SEE FLAMES FROM HER HOUSE, DOWN TOWARDS BEACH
5:29PM CAN SEE A LOT OF SMOKE NORTH IN THE HILLS
5:28PM PER RP S SCANNER SOMEONE CALLED IN AIR SUPPORT
5:16PM LOS PADRES FIRE WILL CB W/ETA, WILL CB RP1
5:14PM ANOTHER RP ADVSD CAN SEE A LOT OF SMOKE APPROX 40 MILES
5:13PM PER RP2, DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CONTROLLED
5:13PM 1039 FIRE, THEY WILL CB RP
5:10PM ALOT OF SMOKE, APPROX 2 MI SOUTH
RESPONDING OFFICERS STATUS
5:35PM CHP Unit Assigned
http://cad.chp.ca.gov/
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UPDATE AS OF 2:30PM – The Highway is now open with no restrictions in both directions.
District: 5 (Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties)
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (español) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGHWAY 1 REOPENS WITH ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL IN BIG SUR
MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 reopened with one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers at 11:30am today after closing yesterday at 6pm due to heavy mud slide activity for four miles from south of Ventana to north of the Big Sur Park (Campgrounds), Caltrans officials have announced.
Maintenance crews will continue working in the area to clear any debris and get the highway fully open. Up to 30-minute delays can be expected and motorists should proceed with caution. Updates will be available as conditions change.
Caltrans reminds motorists that ‘we’re here to get you there’ and to call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) for the latest highway information.
For traffic updates on other state highway projects in Monterey County, residents can call the District 5 toll free number at 1-831-372-0862 or can visit our website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/maint/road/upmon.htm.
2:15 PM Update:
Highway 1 is now open in both directions with no restrictions
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