NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, through its Regional Response Coordination Center in Oakland and its National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., are monitoring impacts of the severe weather in California and the erosion to the Oroville Dam spillway and remains in close coordination with state and tribal officials in affected areas.

FEMA is coordinating support for the state of California in its preparation and response to the potential Auxiliary Spillway failure near Oroville in Butte County. 

The FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center located in Oakland has activated in response to the emergency with a 24-hour operational tempo.

“We activated to ensure we’re postured to rapidly respond to any needs that California may have to protect life and property,” said Acting FEMA Administrator Dr. Ahsha Tribble. “We encourage residents in the affected to area to follow the direction of local authorities, and if told to stay out of evacuated areas, please do so.”  

A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team, or IMAT, is onsite at the California State Operations Center in Sacramento. The IMAT is an emergency response strike team comprised of specialists in the fields of operations, logistics, external affairs, finance and administration, and other key management positions.

According to the National Weather Service, an active weather pattern will return to Northern and Central California for the middle to latter portion of the week as a series of storm systems track across the region. 

The National Weather Service forecasts the heaviest precipitation is expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning and again Friday into Friday night. 

Additional rainfall may cause excessive runoff within the river basins and may pose additional stress on the Oroville Dam spillway situation.

The state requested and FEMA logistics will supply 150,000 one-liter bottles of water; 20,000 blankets; and 10,000 cots to the state today.

FEMA’s Liaison Officers continue to work with the California Office of Emergency Services Operations Center and the California Department of Water Resources State-Federal Flood Operations Center.

FEMA encourages those in the areas affected, or potentially affected by the severe weather to monitor local radio, TV stations or official social media accounts for updated emergency information, and to follow the instructions of state, tribal and local officials.

As of Monday evening, the California Department of Water Resources advised that the primary spillway continued to flow at 100,000 cubic feet per second and lake levels have dropped to 894 feet.

After evaluating the erosion on the emergency spillway, a plan was put in place to prevent further erosion. Utilizing trucks and helicopters, crews moved large rocks and gravel to fill erosion on the emergency spillway. Department of Water Resources staff continues to inspect and evaluate the emergency and primary spillways for further erosion.

Total discharges from the reservoir remain consistent with flood control releases at this time of year under these weather conditions. Department of Water Resources does not expect the discharge from the reservoir to exceed the capacity of any channel downstream.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This Valentine’s Day, the local animal rescue group Orphan Dog is asking the community to support a concentrated effort to get Lake County’s animal population problem under control.

Fix Lake County’s Fabulous February Fix fundraiser is on. The purpose is to raise money to do one huge spay and neuter event in Lake County.

Fix Lake County has tentatively scheduled the first event for June 10, in partnership with a local tribe as the location for the event.

The cost to bring the program into the county will be between $5,000 and $10,000 per event. To raise the money for the event, donations are solicited at $50 each, though smaller donations are also appreciated.

Donations can be sent via the donate button on www.OrphanDog.org or mailed to Orphan Dog, P.O. Box 662, Lakeport, CA 95453.

Fix Lake County is an initiative by Orphan Dog Rescue.

“When we first started Orphan Dog in 2003, I thought the problem would be stemmed in about 10 years. Instead, the need continues to grow,” said Orphan Dog Executive Director Karen Schaver. “We can’t adopt our way out of this mess, we have to try something else.”

While rescue is one side of the problem, the growing number of unplanned and unwanted litters for both cats and dogs is really the driving force and “flip-side” of animal rescue.

“I get up to 20 phone calls a week from people who need to give up their dog, up to five calls a week from people who need help with their vet bills and up to 10 calls a week from people who need to get their animals spayed or neutered,” Schaver said, “We currently have 300 names on the spay-neuter list. If we could tackle this list, it would make a huge difference in our unwanted pet population in Lake County.”

Although Fix Lake County raises funds to provide spay/neuter services to people who are looking for assistance, logistics is one of the biggest hurdles.

“Many of the people who’ve contacted me asking for assistance also struggle with finding transportation to a scheduled clinic,” said Schaver. “Our Valentine’s Day Spay/Neuter outreach, the Fabulous February Fix, has addressed that by scheduling a spay and neuter event in areas where I know, from experience, that pet owners struggle with transportation issues. By going directly to those areas, we have a much greater opportunity to provide these desperately needed services. In addition, we will be providing some transport of pets for those who absolutely cannot come to the event.”

The Orphan Dog team travels more than 3,000 miles a month to over 50 adoption events a year and has homed over 3,200 dogs, 296 were homed in 2016.

Orphan Dog is an all-volunteer rescue group, every single penny of every donation goes directly to animal care.

Valentine’s Day Fabulous February Fix 2017 goal is to raise $10,000 to do one spay and neuter event. That means we need only 200 gifts of $50 to meet this goal. The next event will also require another $10,000, so the total goal for both events is 400 gifts of $50 each.

Donations can be sent via the donate button on www.OrphanDog.org or mailed to Orphan Dog, P.O. Box 662, Lakeport, CA 95453. Every donation is greatly appreciated.

To follow Fix Lake County, go to www.Facebook.com/fixlakecounty .

When Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow on Feb. 2, 2016, that indicated an early start to spring for the United States.

The decision marks only the 18th time Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog hasn't seen his shadow since the tradition began in 1887.

For the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, AccuWeather meteorologists are concerned for just the opposite, as cold air and the potential for snow will linger into the start of March. Elsewhere, springlike severe weather isn't predicted to become widespread until April.

Cold air and snow possible for mid-Atlantic, Northeast into March; Drought may develop for Great Lakes, Ohio Valley

Warm weather lovers in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast will have to be patient, as winter plans to linger into March across both regions.

Cold air and stormy weather will take the stage from late February into the start of March, opening the door for a potential late-winter snowstorm.

"There could be a last surge of winter before we see the transition into spring," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "For the Northeast, there's still an opportunity for some snow, although there's a higher chance that we'll see a cold snap rather than a big snowstorm."

A quick warmup will follow, however, allowing milder air to arrive faster than it has in the past two years for both regions.

"A lack of arctic air in the region and the sun getting higher and higher in the sky will make it feel pretty nice, I think, by mid-March in the Northeast," Pastelok said.

Through April, the weather pattern will lend itself to the occasional damp and dreary day before a turnaround in May.

"Big cities around the Great Lakes will have nice weather for outdoor projects and early planting in May," Pastelok said. "Expect mild temperatures, frequent sunshine and cooler nights."

May could also yield drought concerns for the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, prompting some early season heat. During the same month, the threat for severe weather will loom for the mid-Atlantic.

Severe weather outbreaks to target Southeast, Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley; Chance for early tropical impact low

Spring will kick off with periods of wet weather across the Southeast, increasing the risk for flooding throughout the region. Florida, Georgia and South Carolina will be at an especially high risk.

From late February through March, the threat for severe thunderstorms will ramp up in Florida. Elsewhere however, severe weather will get a slow start with below-normal tornado totals predicted for the month.

Come April, warmer air will help to fuel severe storms, allowing multiple, widespread outbreaks to occur. Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee, are all in the line of fire.

In the Gulf Coast states, the severe weather may turn into flooding events during April and May.

Those concerned for early tropical development can breathe a sigh of relief: The chance for an early impact will be low.

Severe weather to ramp up in April for Plains, Mississippi Valley, Midwest

Stable air in place across the central Plains and the Mississippi Valley during March and early April will help to hold back severe weather.

However, that will change as April progresses and storms track from the Southwest, leading to increased severe weather in the central and southern Plains, Mississippi Valley and Midwest.

"Intense warmth ahead of these storms coming out of the West is going to promote severe weather. Those are the ingredients you need," Pastelok said.

"The thing that worries me the most is that it could turn into heavy rain producers that could lead to flooding. And we've seen lots of flooding already over this past winter season in the Mississippi Valley."

Across the southern Plains states, flooding this year is not predicted to be as severe as last year, when between 15 and 20 inches of rain inundated Oklahoma and Texas.

Western drought woes to continue into spring

An El Nino weather pattern has delivered rain and mountain snow to the western United States this winter, and that trend will largely continue during spring.

Drier-than-normal conditions will affect the Northwest in March; however, the rest of the West may continue to have surges of moisture into April.

Snow is forecast to fall across the high ground of the central and southern Rockies in March. In California, abundant precipitation could lead to additional flooding problems.

"Throughout the winter, the focus for precipitation has been on both northern and central California. While this will continue to be the case into spring, one or two systems are on the radar for Southern California in March," Pastelok said.

Rain and mountain snow have helped to ease short-term drought woes in the Golden State, but the long-term water crisis will continue.

"We've gotten the snow in the Sierra. We've gotten the rain in the short term. It will continue through the end of the wet season, which is good news as well," Pastelok said.

"That will help out agriculture in the short term. That will help out the drinking water situation. However, will it relieve all the other problems that occurred over the last four and a half years? Probably not. I think we need another season like this."

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Sunday night Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency order to bolster the state's response to the situation at the Oroville Dam's auxiliary spillway and support subsequent local evacuations.

A reported 188,000 people in the northern Sacramento Valley were under evacuation orders on Sunday as a result of concerns that the dam’s auxiliary spillway was close to failing.

That auxiliary spillway hadn’t been used since the dam’s completion in 1948, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

The main spillway of the dam – the tallest in the United States – had developed a huge sinkhole this past week.

"I've been in close contact with emergency personnel managing the situation in Oroville throughout the weekend and it's clear the circumstances are complex and rapidly changing," said Gov. Brown. "I want to thank local and state law enforcement for leading evacuation efforts and doing their part to keep residents safe. The state is directing all necessary personnel and resources to deal with this very serious situation."

The Governor's Office of Emergency Services has activated the State Operations Center in Mather to its highest level and is coordinating with personnel at the Incident Command Post in Oroville with other local, state and federal emergency response officials to address all emergency management, evacuation and mutual aid needs.

The California National Guard, Cal Fire and California Highway Patrol are among the many agencies involved in the response.

The full text of the governor’s emergency proclamation is below.

PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS during January and February of 2017, three atmospheric river storm systems struck California, bringing massive amounts of rainfall; and

WHEREAS this rainfall inundated lakes, rivers, and streams throughout the state, causing them to reach capacity, resulting in widespread flooding; and

WHEREAS Lake Oroville in Butte County reached capacity, causing officials to utilize the spillway to reduce the lake's water levels; and

WHEREAS on February 7, 2017, the spillway at Lake Oroville Dam began to erode, causing officials to begin utilizing the auxiliary emergency spillway on February 11; and

WHEREAS officials have determined that the auxiliary emergency spillway at Lake Oroville Dam is in danger of failing, which if it fails, may cause widespread and severe flooding; and

WHEREAS the potential for flooding has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this potential flooding by reason of its magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist in Butte, Sutter, and Yuba Counties due to this potential flooding; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8571 of the California Government Code, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of this potential flooding.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code,

HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in the Counties of Butte, Sutter, and Yuba.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. All citizens should heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.

2. All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan.

3. As necessary to assist local governments and for the protection of public health and the environment, state agencies shall enter into contracts to arrange for the procurement of materials, goods, and services necessary to quickly remove dangerous debris, repair damaged resources, and restore and protect the impacted watershed. Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements, are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of this flooding.

4. The California National Guard shall mobilize under California Military and Veterans Code section 146 to support disaster response and relief efforts and coordinate with all relevant state agencies, including the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and all relevant state and local emergency responders and law enforcement within the impacted areas. Pursuant to section 147 of the California Military and Veterans Code, any and all provisions of Division 2 of the Military and Veterans Code or other laws of the State which require advertisement for bids for purchases of supplies or employment of services are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of this flooding.

5. In order to expedite response and recovery, Division 13 (commencing with section 21000) of the Public Resources Code and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division are hereby suspended.

6. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide assistance to Butte, Sutter and Yuba Counties, as appropriate, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, California Government Code section 8680 et seq. and California Code of Regulations, title 19, section 2900 et seq.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 12th day of February 2017.



_____________________________
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California


ATTEST:



_____________________________
ALEX PADILLA
Secretary of State

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Four cats are ready for new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

The cats this week include three males and a female, a mix of tabbies and a black cat.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines. 

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Male orange tabby

This male orange tabby has a medium-length coat.

Shelter staff describes him as “super affectionate.”

He’s in kennel No. 91, ID No. 6940.

'Shadow'

“Shadow” is a handsome young male domestic short hair cat with an all-black coat and gold eyes.

He's been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 99, ID No. 6237.

Male gray tabby

This male gray tabby has a short coat.

He has already been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 100, ID No. 6939.

Female domestic short hair

This young female domestic short hair has a white and gray tabby coat, and blue eyes.

She already has been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 120, ID No. 6814.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After several dry days, Lake County can expect rain to return the middle of this week.

The National Weather Service said another wave of rain is due to move over Northern California beginning on Wednesday.

From Wednesday to Thursday, Lake County is expected to get between 1 and 2 inches, a far more modest level than it received during the last round of storms.

The specific Lake County forecast also calls for chances of rain through Sunday.

The drier weather that arrived late last week has allowed Clear Lake’s waters to begin to slightly recede.

Early Monday, the lake’s depth was 9.79 feet Rumsey, according to the United States Geological Survey gauge on the lake. Flood stage on Clear Lake is 9 feet Rumsey.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that Clear Lake will continue to recede until the rain returns Wednesday, at which point the lake is expected to rise once more.

Due to the lake’s conditions, the National Weather Service has a flood warning in effect through 9:15 p.m. Monday for Lake County.

The National Weather Service said it expects the lake level to remain high and to fluctuate near the 10-foot Rumsey throughout the day on Tuesday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.