Last week, I was contacted by Joan Costello of Monterey Peninsula Quilters Guild about quilts her group had made for the River Fire, Carmel Fire, and Dolan Fire victims who had lost their homes. I did not have an accurate list of those who lost their homes, but I knew who did. I contacted Patte Kronlund, Secretary of CABS. She jumped right in, contacted Joan and offered her assistance in getting these gorgeous quilts to our Dolan Fire victims. She suggested that the 12 firefighters who lost their home at Nacimiento Station be included, and they were. This is what CABs does best. Thank you, Joan, Patte, and all the quilters. What a great gift. Monterey Peninsula Quilters Guild website is: www.mpqg.org

Patte took and sent me this photo:

November 13, 2020POST-FIRE WINTER STORM PREPAREDNESS WEBINAR Next Wednesday, Supervisor Adams and the District 5 office will be hosting a webinar by the County of Monterey to provide an update on Post-Fire Winter Storm Preparedness for communities impacted by the 2020 Wildfires. This webinar will specifically address the 2020-2021 Winter Storm Outlook, Flash Flooding/Debris Flow/Mudflows, preparing your home, insurance, alerts and warnings, precipitation thresholds, evacuation zones, etc. Panelists include the National Weather Service, the National Resource Conservation Services, Monterey County Resource Management Agency, Water Resource Agency and the Office of Emergency Services. When: November 18, 2020 05:30 PMURL: https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/98761727076Dial: +1 669 900 6833Webinar ID: 987 6172 7076  Recovering from the River, Carmel and Dolan fires continues to be on the top of our minds. We have heard from several residents with concerns about the start of the rainy season and potential issues within the burn scar areas. This webinar is a good opportunity to learn about what you can do to prepare for the winter storm season.  You can also find information here:https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/administrative-office/office-of-emergency-services/ready-monterey-county/winter-stormUPCOMING DEADLINES AND REMINDERS FEMA Disaster Assistance A reminder that you have until November 21st to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PST.  More information can be found on the County website here:https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/administrative-office/office-of-emergency-services/response/2020-fires/virtual-local-assistance-center-2 Debris Removal The Phase I cleanup of household hazardous waste and the debris removal process has been overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to remove items and substances known to be a threat to human and environmental health. The USEPA teams are working on completing the Phase I process. Next month, property owners may move into Phase II. However, for the Phase II cleanup, owners are required to engage in the Government Program or hire properly licensed and certified contractors and consultants to complete cleanup in the Private Program. The Government Sponsored Debris Removal Program is anticipated to begin field work the first of December.  Please note that ALL Property Owners with wildfire debris must submit a Right-of-Entry Permit OR Opt-Out Waiver to the Resource Management Agency by December 15, 2020 @ 5:00pm. Due to the high volume of calls and questions, Monterey County has now set up a Debris Removal Hotline to answer all questions regarding debris removal and to direct people to the appropriate agencies. If you have questions, please call 831-796-6472 More information, including the required forms and a recording of the webinar on the Phase II process, can be found here:https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/administrative-office/office-of-emergency-services/recovery/debris-removal/debris-removal-phase-2 Documents can be submitted by:E-mail: to Freda Escobar (escobar@co.monterey.ca.us)In Person: RMA Permit Center, 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas, CA 93901 Join the Conversation on Facebook

Supervisor Mary L. Adams | 1200 Aguajito Rd., Ste. 1, Monterey , CA 93940Unsubscribe kwnovoa@mac.comUpdate Profile | About our service providerSent by district5@co.monterey.ca.us powered byTry email marketing for free today!

Sandbags, Sand Stockpiles Available for Monterey County Residents in Fire and High Risk Flood Areas

Post Date:11/16/2020 11:50 AM

This summer’s wildfires make being prepared for winter weather more important than ever, as post-fire areas are at high risk for flooding and debris flow.

Residents who are in close proximity to the burn scars, in areas of high risk or who are concerned about urban stream flooding or high water situations can take advantage of Monterey County’s sandbag distribution and sand stockpile locations. You can find sand stockpile, sandbag distribution locations and helpful information on filling sandbags on the Monterey County Winter Storm Preparedness page. The list of sandbag distribution sites is here.  Residents should bring shovels and plan to fill and load the bags themselves at stockpile locations. Limited assistance is available.

Of greatest concern this year are the areas impacted by the Carmel, River and Dolan Fires, nearly 180,000 acres in Monterey County. Those fires have done long-lasting damage to both the immediate area as well as locations that may be several miles away which could be affected by flash flooding and debris flows. Rainfall that would normally be absorbed runs off extremely quickly after a wildfire, as burned soil is water repellant, so less rainfall is required to produce a flash flood.

Those living in and around burned areas can find out more about these dangers by taking part in a post-fire Winter Storm Preparedness webinar on November 18, 2020. Details and webinar links are at www.co.monterey.ca.us/recovery.

Some additional preparedness actions burn scar residents should take include:

Locate your property on the Watershed Emergency Response Webmap at www.co.monterey.ca.us/watershed

1. Contact the National Resource Conversation Services for a free property assessment and technical advice on how to mitigate impacts to your property. Submit a request at www.co.monterey.ca.us/watershed
2. Refer to the “Homeowner Guide to Flood Prevention and Response” at www.co.monterey.ca.us/debris-mud-land-slides
3. Sign up for Alert Monterey County at https://member.everbridge.net/453003085611217/login; or Text your zip code to 888777; or Text “MCWINTER” to 888777. 
4. Monitor weather reports and consider your safety risk when a weather advisory is issued. 
5. Be prepared to leave before roads, creeks and waterways are flow, or go to a neighbor on high ground or shelter in-place. 
6. Flood Insurance: Most homeowners insurance does not cover floods from natural disasters. Make sure your home is protected. For more information on FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at:1-877-336-2627 or visit: FloodSmart.gov.
7. Have an Emergency Plan and a Disaster Kit ready to go. For more information, go to https://www.ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow

From Mike Caplin:

All,

A couple of days ago I received an email from CAL FIRE on a draft Fire Hazard Planning Advisory document from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).  

Once finalized, the intent is for OPR to provide that document to counties and cities to advise on how planning documents and ordinances should be updated to address the threat of wildfires.

The draft is currently open for public comments until December 18, 2020.  

Here is a link to OPR’s page on it https://opr.ca.gov/news/2020/11-09.html

And here is a link to download the draft documenthttps://opr.ca.gov/docs/20201109-Draft_Wildfire_TA.pdf

Here is a link to an FAQ document (which recommends that comments be submitted using a form that is provided rather than in a letter) https://opr.ca.gov/docs/20201109-Wildfire_TA_FAQs.pdf

And here is a link to the comment submission formhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/firehazard (if you use this form (based on SurveyMonkey), be sure to check all of the boxes on the first page you may want to comment on, as you will be limited to comment only on subjects that were checked).

I have not read all of it, but from a quick look the document appears to be heavily influenced by urban bias, and very much in need of public comments from people who understand the situation in rural communities subject to wildfires.  

It is heavy on restricting development in rural communities subject to wildfires.  While it also acknowledges the need for wildfire fuel reduction work, it makes no mention of the need to amend laws to allow that work to actually take place without regulatory hindrance, leaving that to continue to fail to meaningfully address the problem, and fails to acknowledge that if people are allowed to meaningfully address the wildfire fuel accumulation problem, the problem could actually be largely solved (instead, apparently assuming the problem is insoluble).

Once in final form I expect this document could influence Monterey County’s updates to the County’s coastal plans, and its inland general plan and ordinances.

My take is that documents like this are dangerously bad policy to the extent they work to further concentrate California’s population into urban areas, which makes California more subject to biological hazards like pandemics, and to attack by weapons of mass destruction.  About 95% of California’s population is already concentrated into urban areas, which make up only about 5.3 percent of California’s land.  https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf   Table 2, page 42 in your pdf reader.

Best,

Mike

Submissions for this week’s photos are now closed. I have filled tomorrow with the last of the photos I have received. I enjoyed this so much, and based on the feedback I have gotten, so have others, so I will do this again in the future as the weather and road conditions allow.

My latest writing for Voices is in the week’s issue, which is jam packed full of interesting articles.

The fires that have shaped our lives this summer are over. The rains finally came, and they were gentle, but our worries are not over. Just like after the Soberanes Fire in 2016, the lives of Big Sur residents will now be dictated by the burn scars, debris flows and road closures which come after a wildfire. This is just the first winter. We will have to be vigilant for several years before there is recovery.

This was on many minds as I started my inquiries of the U.S. Forest Service and Monterey County Public Works Department this past week. There is a strong likelihood that Big Sur will be divided into islands for a time — how many islands and for how long is anyone’s guess.

Notification of Upcoming Film Activity – Big Sur Area
Date: November 12, 2020
To: Big Sur Residents and Businesses
From: Collar & Leash Ltd.
Re: Film Production Activity on Highway 1 in the Big Sur Area Scheduled for 1 day during 11/16-11/18 (weather dependent)
In an effort to better communicate with Big Sur residents and business owners regarding upcoming film activities in the area, this is to notify you of a permitted film shoot to take place on 1 day during 11/16, 11/17, 11/18 between the hours of 6:00am – 5:30pm (weather dependent). Our work will require intermittent traffic control (ITC) at and near Bixby Bridge and Hwy. 1 [Mile Markers MON 62.0-MON 58.3]. As per our permit, a portion of parking at the Bixby Bridge turnout will also be used.
We will be hiring California Highway Patrol officers to facilitate the ITC and to ensure public safety and access with only brief traffic holds. Most of our trucks and equipment will be stationed a few miles away on private property.
We have taken all necessary steps to ensure that the required permits have been obtained and will comply with restrictions necessary for a safe and efficient shoot.
The production company would like to show its appreciation to the community with a donation to State Parks & Mid-Coast Fire Brigade.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. I hope this advance notice is helpful for you to plan your day.
Sincerely yours,
Justin Hill
Location Manager
Collar & Leash, Ltd. 310-874-8689 doglocationmanager@yahoo.com