[californiadisasters] Admin Read: Batten Down The Hatches!

Achtung Gruppe!

California is experiencing and will continue to experience powerful winds that look to get worse before they get better. This is happening at both ends of the state (and in the middle) all at once which is somewhat unusual. Typically we do not get Diablo Winds blowing concurrently with Santa Ana Winds let alone Mono Winds as well. All three are regional varieties of katabatic winds which California experiences this time of year but usually not all at once.

Although we have received some decent rains that have germinated grasses which are now greening, the old fuels, particularly dead fuels are still there and have dried out. The current winds are additionally curing the fuels and will continue to do so. Therefore, with any fire comes the possibility of a runaway fire be it structural or wildland or interface zone. In addition to the fire threat is the fact this statewide wind event is of unusual intensity and duration and non-fire damage is anticipated from the winds ripping at trees and man-made structures and high-profile vehicles as well as sand and dust storms being generated in certain locales. Please use due caution in all you do in all situations throughout the remainder of this week.

Beginning tomorrow morning I shall be in Santa Barbara helping a friend do the Gem Faire at the Earl Warren Showgrounds (feel free to stop by if you are in the area) and won't return home until this Sunday night. I shall be in the Rocks & Relics booth but during this time I will be limited in my internet access. I ask that our membership take up the slack in my absence and keep the home fires burning (poor choice of expression I know) and hold down the fort (might be necessary literally). Please post any info on significant wind damage and societal effects (like widespread power outages and road closures) as well as significant fire activity. I don't want just any fire activity but I mean the type that matters such as that threatens to burn or does burn structures or causes notable negative societal effects like evacuations or road closures or power outages or simply gets really large even if in an unpopulated region.

Additionally, God forbid anything interesting happens I recommend our members take photos of any such that they do witness. Anything worth posting on the group albums please do so. Also, I invite our members to check out the cool photos already there of past events, mostly fires. Also, now that I'm blogging daily I'd be interested in my blog guess-hosting some of the better images you take be they of fires or duststorms or sandstorms or downed trees or power poles or pylons or anything else. If I elect to use one or more of your images you shall receive full attribution and you will retain all rights to your own images. However, on my blog they will stand a good chance of being seen by a much larger audience than merely Yahoo Groups.

Take care and stay safe, ya'hear?

Kim Patrick Noyes
List Gruppenfurher

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