With much of California to remain under an excessive heat warning through early Monday, the California Independent System Operator has extended a statewide Flex Alert for a second day on Saturday.
The goal of the Flex Alert is to avoid a possible shortage of energy as extreme heat in California and a growing wildfire in Southern Oregon threatening transmission lines continue to strain the state’s electric grid.
When the Flex Alert is in effect again between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, California’s residents are strongly encouraged to conserve energy by:
— Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits. — Avoiding using major appliances. — Turning off all unnecessary lights.
Consumers are also encouraged to use fans for cooling and unplug unused electrical items.
Earlier in the day, before the Flex Alert takes effect and when solar energy is abundant, consumers are encouraged to take these steps to be comfortable and help grid operators balance electricity supply and demand:
— Pre-cool your home by lowering the thermostat. — If you need to use your major appliances, do it before the Flex Alert is in effect, when solar energy is plentiful. — Close window coverings to keep your home or apartment cool. — Charge electronic devices and electric vehicles so there’s no need to do it later, when solar generation is down.
In addition to the Flex Alert, the California Independent System Operator is using multiple tools to help keep the grid stable, including a solicitation on July 1 to generators in the Western region to procure additional resources.
The California Independent System Operator is also working with business and industry to help them reduce electricity consumption at critical times.
Conditions on the grid became more challenging Friday afternoon when the rapidly expanding Bootleg wildfire in southern Oregon was threatening electric transmission lines, putting limits on the amount of energy that can be imported to California.
Voluntary conservation has helped keep the electric grid stable during past times of high stress on the grid, including last month when triple-digit temperatures across the West strained the system with higher demand for power.
Grid operators continue to closely monitor conditions and will have additional announcements as needed.
As California’s ability to store solar and wind energy with batteries or other technology continues to advance, crucial evening hours will be less of a challenge and similar emergencies rarer. But for now, collective action to conserve is our most effective way to support grid reliability.
For information on Flex Alerts, and to get more electricity conservation tips, visit the California Independent System Operator’s Flex Alert website.
On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his nomination of four Court of Appeal justices and 19 Superior Court judges.
Those nominated to the Court of Appeal are Justice Alison M. Tucher as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Three; Justice Teri L. Jackson as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five; Judge Cynthia C. Lie as an associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal; and Judge Charles E. Wilson II as an associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal.
For the Superior Courts, the governor appointed two judges in Alameda County, one in Fresno County, two in Kern County, two in Los Angeles County, one in Orange County, one in Riverside County, two in Sacramento County, two in San Bernardino County, one in San Diego County, one in San Francisco County, three in San Mateo County and one in Santa Cruz County.
First District Court of Appeal
Alison M. Tucher
Justice Alison M. Tucher, 58, of Berkeley, has been nominated to serve as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Three. She has served as an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Four since 2018.
Justice Tucher served as a judge at the Alameda County Superior Court from 2014 to 2018. She was a partner at Morrison and Foerster from 2004 to 2014 and a litigation associate there from 1998 to 2003.
She served as a deputy district attorney at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office from 1995 to 1998 and was assistant director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s White House Security Review Team from 1994 to 1995.
Justice Tucher served as a law clerk for the Honorable David H. Souter at the U.S. Supreme Court and for the Honorable William A. Norris at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School and a Master of Arts degree in engineering from the University of Cambridge.
Justice Tucher fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Peter J. Siggins.
This position requires the completion of a review by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
The Commission consists of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senior Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline.
Justice Tucher is a Democrat.
Teri L. Jackson
Justice Teri L. Jackson, 64, of San Mateo, has been nominated to serve as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five. She has served as an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Three since 2019.
Justice Jackson served as a Judge at the San Francisco County Superior Court from 2002 to 2019. She was of counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP from 1997 to 2002 and served as an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office from 1984 to 1997.
She served as a deputy district attorney in the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office from 1981 to 1984. Justice Jackson was an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law from 2006 to 2019 and at the University of San Francisco School of Law from 2004 to 2019.
She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Justice Jackson fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Barbara J.R. Jones.
This position requires the completion of a review by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Justice Jackson is a Democrat.
Sixth District Court of Appeal
Cynthia C. Lie
Judge Cynthia C. Lie, 53, of Oakland, has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal. She has served as a judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court since 2015.
Judge Lie served as an assistant federal public defender at the San Jose Branch of the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Northern District of California from 2003 to 2014.
She served as a staff attorney at the city and county of San Francisco Office of Citizen Complaints from 2002 to 2003 and was a sole practitioner from 2001 to 2003.
Judge Lie was a litigation associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP in 2000 and served as a deputy public defender at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office from 1995 to 2000.
She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Nathan D. Mihara.
This position requires the completion of a review by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Judge Lie is registered without party preference.
Charles E. Wilson II
Judge Charles E. Wilson II, 46, of East Palo Alto, has been nominated to serve as an associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal. He has served as a Judge at the Santa Clara County Superior Court since 2014.
Judge Wilson served as a deputy district attorney at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2014. He was an associate at Gordon and Rees LLP from 2003 to 2007 and at Phillips, Spallas and Angstadt in 2003.
Judge Wilson earned Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of San Francisco.
He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Eugene M. Premo.
This position requires the completion of a review by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Judge Wilson is a Democrat.
The compensation for each of these positions is $245,578.
Amid intensifying drought and record-breaking temperatures across the Western United States, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday added nine counties to the regional drought state of emergency and called on Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% with simple measures to protect water reserves if drought conditions continue and to help maintain critical flows for fish and wildlife wherever possible.
“The realities of climate change are nowhere more apparent than in the increasingly frequent and severe drought challenges we face in the West and their devastating impacts on our communities, businesses and ecosystems,” said Gov. Newsom. “The entire state is in a drought today, and to meet this urgent challenge we must all pull together and do our part to reduce water use as California continues to build a more climate resilient water system to safeguard the future of our state. We’re proud of the tremendous strides made to use water more efficiently and reduce water waste, but we can all find opportunities this summer to keep more water in reserve as this drought could stretch into next year and beyond.”
The governor on Thursday signed an executive order calling on all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% compared to 2020 levels through simple actions such as reducing landscape irrigation, running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, finding and fixing leaks, installing water-efficient showerheads and taking shorter showers.
These voluntary efforts complement specific local conservation mandates already in place in some communities experiencing acute water shortage conditions this summer.
State officials estimate an additional 15% voluntary reduction by urban water users from 2020 levels could save as much as 850,000 acre-feet of water over the next year for future use, or enough to supply more than 1.7 million households for a year.
The State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources will monitor progress on voluntary conservation, reservoir storage, soil moisture and other metrics in the coming months to determine whether additional drought response actions are needed.
To help Californians take simple action to reduce water use by 15 percent, state agencies are partnering with local water suppliers to promote conservation tips through the Save Our Water campaign.
The campaign and website were critical resources for Californians during the 2012-2016 drought and remain a trusted information source on using water wisely.
During the 2012-2016 drought, Californians responded to the call to conserve, with many taking permanent actions that continue to yield benefits.
Statewide per capita residential water use declined 21% between the years 2013 and 2016 and today, the urban sector is using approximately 16% less on average statewide than in 2013.
Building California’s drought and climate resilience, local water suppliers and communities are also bolstering their drought planning and making forward-looking investments in water recycling, stormwater capture and reuse, groundwater storage and other strategies. Agricultural water users have made significant investments in irrigation efficiencies since the last drought.
Despite those efforts, many agricultural producers are experiencing severe reductions in water supplies this year and are fallowing land in response.
At Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo County on Thursday, Gov. Newsom also signed a proclamation expanding the regional drought state of emergency to include nine additional counties where drought effects are increasingly severe or where state emergency response may be needed: Inyo, Marin, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz.
This action will enable state agencies to more quickly and effectively support drought response through actions such as expediting purchasing and contracting to complete projects that shore up water supplies.
While drought conditions exist across the state, the counties covered by the proclamations are experiencing severe impacts and are likely to benefit from these emergency actions.
Following the initial emergency proclamation issued in April for the hardest-hit counties, and its expansion in May, today’s executive action brings a total of 50 of the state’s 58 counties under the drought state of emergency.
The governor has also directed state agencies to take further actions to preserve critical water supplies, address drought impacts and protect people, natural resources and economic activity.
The governor in May proposed $5.1 billion in water resiliency investments over four years to bolster the state’s emergency drought response, build regional capacity to endure drought and safeguard water supplies for communities, the economy and the environment.
The administration is working with the Legislature to finalize budget investments that will address drinking water challenges in small and disadvantaged communities, support Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation and multi-benefit land repurposing and fund projects that improve ecosystem health for native fish and other wildlife, among other priorities.
Actions by the administration to address drought to date include:
— Since the 2019 enactment of legislation to help provide safe and affordable drinking water to communities that lack it, the Water Board so far has provided interim drinking water solutions to 496 communities, provided planning assistance to another 164 communities and provided long-term solutions to 110 small water systems to make them more climate resilient. — State agencies in recent weeks have provided emergency support to several small communities and domestic well users with inadequate water supply problems. — In close coordination with a wide range of stakeholders, state agencies assessed the drought vulnerability of water suppliers and ranked the most vulnerable systems in need of support. The effort also gathered recommendations from stakeholders on ways to improve drought contingency planning. — Building on that assessment of drought vulnerability, the State Water Resources Control Board this year completed the state’s first drinking water needs assessment in which it identified small water systems and domestic wells that are failing or at risk of failing to meet the state’s drinking water standards. — State review of voluntary water transfers between water right holders has been made more efficient to facilitate the movement of water to places where it is needed most. — The Department of Water Resources, or DWR, updated its Household Water Supply Shortage Reporting website, which tracks voluntarily reported supply issues by counties. — DWR installed a temporary emergency rock barrier across a channel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta this summer to help slow the movement of saltwater and prevent contamination of water supplies for Delta agriculture and millions of Californians. — State regulators have modified reservoir operations and water quality regulations to conserve water supplies in key reservoirs. — With stakeholder input, the Administration in 2020 finalized a Water Resilience Portfolio, with more than 100 separate actions to be taken by state agencies to help California’s diverse regions endure drought, flood and changing precipitation patterns.
Learn more about current conditions, the state’s response and informational resources available to the public at the state’s new drought preparedness website.
The California Department of Public Health announced Friday the first confirmed death in California due to West Nile virus, or WNV.
The death occurred in San Luis Obispo County.
“West Nile virus activity in the state is increasing, so I urge Californians to take every possible precaution to protect against mosquito bites,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health officer.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. As of July 9, WNV has been detected in 45 dead birds from 6 counties and 177 mosquito samples from 13 counties.
No WNV activity — either in animals, insects or humans — has been reported in Lake County to date.
Hot temperatures this month are contributing to increasing numbers of mosquitoes and the increased risk of virus transmission to humans.
So far this season, activity is within expected levels. The risk of disease due to WNV usually increases at this time of year and is highest throughout the summer and early fall.
West Nile virus is influenced by many factors, including climate, the number and types of birds and mosquitoes in an area, and the level of WNV immunity in birds.
The risk of serious illness to most people is low. However, some individuals — less than 1% — can develop serious neurological illnesses such as encephalitis or meningitis.
People 50 years of age and older, and individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure, have a higher chance of getting sick and are more likely to develop complications from WNV infection.
CDPH recommends that individuals protect against mosquito bites and WNV by practicing the “Three Ds”:
— DEET: Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep the mosquitoes from biting you. Insect repellents should not be used on children under two months of age.
— DAWN AND DUSK — Mosquitoes that transmit WNV usually bite in the early morning and evening so it is important to wear proper clothing and repellent if outside during these times. Make sure that your doors and windows have tightfitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
— DRAIN: Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property by emptying flower pots, old car tires, buckets, and other containers. If you know of a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained, please contact your local mosquito and vector control agency.
California’s West Nile virus website includes the latest information on WNV activity in the state. Californians are encouraged to report dead birds on the website or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473).
An unprecedented heat wave that started around June 26 smashed numerous all-time temperature records in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, or AIRS, aboard the Aqua satellite, captured the progression of this slow-moving heat dome across the region from June 21 to 30.
An animation of some of the AIRS data show surface air temperature anomalies – values above or below long-term averages. Surface air temperature is something that people directly feel when they are outside.
In many cases, the highs exceeded previous temperature records by several degrees or more. On June 28, Quillayute, Washington, set an all-time high temperature record of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, shattering the old record of 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
Numerous weather stations broke records on consecutive days, showing the unprecedented nature of this extreme heat, which is also being blamed for a number of fatalities.
In British Columbia, the village of Lytton set a new all-time record for Canada at 119 degrees Fahrenheit on June 29, only to break it the next day with a reading of 121 degrees Fahrenheit.
The AIRS instrument recorded similar temperature anomalies at an altitude of about 10,000 feet, showing that the extreme heat also affected mountainous regions. And temperature anomalies at roughly 18,000 feet demonstrated that the heat dome extended high into Earth’s troposphere, creating the conditions for intense heat at the planet’s surface that are normally found farther south.
AIRS, in conjunction with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit, or AMSU, senses emitted infrared and microwave radiation from Earth to provide a three-dimensional look at the planet’s weather and climate.
Working in tandem, the two instruments make simultaneous observations down to Earth’s surface.
With more than 2,000 channels sensing different regions of the atmosphere, the system creates a global, three-dimensional map of atmospheric temperature and humidity, cloud amounts and heights, greenhouse gas concentrations and many other atmospheric phenomena.
Launched into Earth orbit in 2002 aboard NASA’s Aqua spacecraft, the AIRS and AMSU instruments are managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, under contract to NASA. JPL is a division of Caltech.
Caltrans has awarded $34 million in state and federal funds to cities, counties, tribes and transit agencies throughout California to improve the state’s transportation network.
The grant money — including $25 million funded by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 — will be used to plan sustainable transportation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bikeways, and increase natural disaster preparedness.
“Investing in transportation planning is essential to our goal of providing a safe, sustainable system that advances equity and livability throughout the state,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “These grants will help our communities create more connected routes for all residents, regardless of whether they travel by car, bike, foot or mass transit.”
Approximately $700,000 was awarded to tribes, agencies and local governments within Caltrans District 1 for transit and active transportation projects.
Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants were awarded to the following projects in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino Counties:
— Humboldt Bay Trail Planning Study: Eureka to College of the Redwoods. — Lake County Transit Development Plan Update. — Feasibility study on mobility solutions for rural communities of inland Mendocino County. — Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation Connected Communities Plan
Lake County will receive $103,580 for a project that involves updating the county’s 2015 Transit Development Plan, or TDP, for use by Lake Transit Authority and other local service providers, according to the grant award list.
First adopted in 2008, the TDP has helped guide the development of transit services providing improved mobility for area residents and visitors.
The region’s large populations of aging, disabled and economically disadvantaged residents relative to other regions of the State emphasizes the importance of the TDP, and past Lake Transit Authority audits have recommended frequent updates to address the most current ridership needs in a timely manner.
Such needs include those for less traditional options that provide flexibility and/or on-demand services, particularly for transit dependent users unable to access existing Lake Transit facilities due to physical or scheduling related barriers. A new update will include an examination of feasible alternatives.
Keeping the TDP current will also further transit planning goals of the Lake Regional Transportation Plan and the California Transportation Plan.
Mendocino County will receive $177,060 for a study to research mobility solutions/transit alternatives existent in the marketplace that have been implemented in similar locations, for applicability in our region.
The study will look at developing innovative solutions (including pilot projects) to meet mobility needs of these remote communities. Various public engagement tools will be utilized for community outreach.
Communities to be studied are Covelo, Laytonville, Brooktrails, Hopland and Potter Valley.
“These investments will positively impact our communities,” said District 1 Director Matt Brady. “Our local partners will use this opportunity to explore multimodal transportation solutions and ways to positively impact some of our District’s more disadvantaged communities."
In total, Caltrans allocated:
— $17.4 million — including $12.38 million from SB 1 — in Sustainable Communities Competitive and Technical Grants to 50 local, regional, tribal and transit agencies for climate change adaptation, complete streets, transportation and land use planning, and natural disaster preparedness. This includes more than $4 million to fund planning for 13 projects that improve safety and access for people who walk and bike.
— $12.5 million in Sustainable Communities Formula Grants, completely funded by SB 1, to metropolitan planning organizations to further regional transportation plans and sustainable communities strategies.
— $4 million in federally funded Strategic Partnership Grants to nine projects that will plan for next-generation freeways, improve transit options between communities, research alternative funding for road repairs, and advance the timely and efficient movement of goods throughout the state.
— Caltrans awards transportation planning grants each year through a competitive process to encourage local and regional projects. Applications are evaluated on how they further state transportation goals by identifying and addressing statewide, interregional or regional transportation deficiencies on the highway system.
View the FY 2021-22 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program Award list for all of the planning grant project awardees.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has a mix of big and little dogs waiting for new homes this week.
The newest dog is at the top.
‘Jake’
“Jake” is a senior male Chihuahua mix.
He has a short tan and white coat.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short brown coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 3476.
‘Cleo’
“Cleo” is a female Doberman pinscher mix with a short gray coat who is new to the shelter.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 4865.
‘Dusty’
“Dusty” is a male American Pit Bull Terrier with a tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 4750.
‘Girly’
“Girly” is a senior female Chihuahua mix.
She has a short tan coat.
Girly is house-trained.
‘Gizmo’
“Gizmo” is a senior male Chihuahua mix with a short tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 4902.
‘Ike’
“Ike” is a senior male Chihuahua.
He has a short tan coat.
‘Lucky’
“Lucky” is a male Labrador retriever mix with a short yellow coat.
He is dog No. 4908.
‘Mara’
“Mara” is a female Rottweiler mix.
She has a short black and tan coat.
He is house-trained.
‘Mary J’
“Mary J” is a female pit bull terrier mix.
She has a white and tan coat.
She is house-trained.
‘Mitzy’
“Mitzy” is a female shepherd mix with a medium-length black and white coat.
She is dog No. 4648.
‘Mojo’
“Mojo” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short black and tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 4881.
‘Oakley’
“Oakley” is a male pit bull terrier mix.
He has a short red and white coat.
‘Patches’
“Patches” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short tricolor coat.
He is dog No. 4903.
‘Tanisha’
“Tanisha” is a female shepherd mix with a short orange and white coat.
She is dog No. 4647.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a male Dutch shepherd mix with a smooth brindle coat.
He is dog No. 4880.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport Police Department said it has arrested a woman in connection with a fire set in the city’s downtown this week.
Jamie Rae Lukens, 34, who police said is a transient and Lakeport resident, was taken into custody on Wednesday night, the agency reported.
At 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Lakeport Police Department officers received information from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center of an active fire in the area of WestAmerica Bank, located at 650 N. Main St.
The department said its officers quickly arrived, along with fire service personnel from the Lakeport Fire Protection District, and located shrubs and a tree burning in the parking lot immediately adjacent to the bank building.
Fire personnel successfully suppressed the fire with only property damage to the nearby vegetation, the department said.
Officers received information from two witnesses who described a female subject who they said set the fire before leaving the scene on foot before first responders arrived. They provided police with descriptions of her physical appearance and what she was wearing.
Police conducted an intensive investigation which, along with further assistance from the two community members that witnessed the event, led them to arresting Lukens just before 9:30 p.m.
Lukens was arrested for the felony violation of arson with the malicious intent of causing damage to the personal property of another.
She was booked into the Lake County Jail on $15,000 bail and remained in custody on Thursday.
Booking records show she is due to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Friday.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact LPD Officer Ryan Cooley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 707-263-5491, Extension 124.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community about a new phone scam.
On Thursday, the agency said it received reports that people had received a suspicious call by an individual identifying himself as Lt. Findley of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
This individual advised the people that they had warrants and fines for failing to appear for a court subpoena and the fines had to be paid immediately.
A phone number was provided, which authorities later learned led to a recording.
The individual who received the call disconnected with the individual and called the sheriff’s dispatch center.
If you or anyone you know is contacted with similar circumstances please hang up, do not give your information over the phone and contact The Lake County Sheriff’s Office central dispatch at 707-263-2690.
Less than a month into North America’s official summer, heat waves are blistering much of the West. California and the Southwest are facing excessive heat watches for the second time, after a mid-June heat wave pushed temperatures above 100 F (38 C).
And in late June an intense heat dome settled over the Pacific Northwest for four days, setting all-time temperature records in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The effects were most evident in Lytton, British Columbia, which reported a temperature of 121 F (49.5 C) on June 29, far above its average high for the date of 76 F (24.4 C). A day later, the town was engulfed by a wildfire.
As an exercise physiologist, I know that the human body is an amazing machine. But like all machines, it functions effectively and safely only under certain conditions.
People frequently debate whether wet heat in places like Florida or dry heat in desert locations like Nevada is worse. The answer is that either setting can be dangerous. Hot desert climates are stressful due to extreme temperatures, while humid subtropical climates are stressful because the body has trouble removing heat when sweat doesn’t evaporate readily. As recent events have shown, hot is hot.
The influence of humidity
North America has a wide range of climates, but when people talk about heat, they often compare the Southwest and the Southeast. Some communities in the Southwest’s hot desert climates, such as Las Vegas, have average summer high temperatures over 100 F (38 C), with relative humidity typically around 20%. This means the air is holding about one-fifth of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold at that temperature and pressure.
In contrast, Southeast locations like Orlando, Florida, typically have average temperatures around 90 F (32.2 C), with humidity regularly approaching 80%. Looking only at temperature, the desert clearly is hotter on average.
However, it’s also important to consider how heat affects the body. Weather reports often do this using the heat index, which calculates how the human body perceives conditions factoring in humidity as well as heat.
Sweating is your body’s primary way of cooling you off. When sweat evaporates away from your skin, it takes heat with it. But when humidity is high, the air already holds a lot of moisture, so the sweat remains on your skin. As it saturates clothing and drips from the body, it can remove only a small amount of heat compared with the cooling that comes with the evaporation of sweat.
As a result, when we account for humidity, the heat exposures people experience in Las Vegas and Orlando are very similar.
Adapting people and places to heat stress
As people go through their daily lives, their bodies work continuously to maintain a temperature close to a normal level of about 98.6 F (37 C). In regions that regularly experience high heat stress, such as the Southeast and Southwest, most buildings and homes now have air conditioning, which helps people maintain healthy temperatures.
But in areas where heat is unusual, such as the Pacific Northwest, many buildings and residences lack cooling. As a result, people are exposed to higher heat for longer periods of time during events like the region’s late June heat wave than they would be in regions where hot weather is the norm.
Just as buildings and residences in areas chronically exposed to heat are equipped with ceiling fans and air conditioning, bodies that are regularly exposed to heat can acclimatize, or adapt and improve their ability to cool. This starts to occur with the first heat exposure – for example, the beginning of fall sports practices in August – but take weeks of regular exposure to reach maximal levels.
One of the first things our bodies do in adapting to heat is to produce more plasma – the watery portion of blood. This enables our circulatory systems to move heat to the skin more effectively so that sweating can remove it from the body.
We also begin sweating earlier than people who are not acclimatized to heat, and our maximal sweat rate increases. These adaptations improve our bodies’ ability to dissipate heat to the environment.
Behavior changes are another way of adapting to heat stress. Since midday is typically the hottest part of the day, it makes sense to avoid physical work and exercise then. When people are active, their bodies break down nutrients – carbohydrates, fats and protein – into energy. This powers movement and also generates metabolic heat, which adds to the body’s heat stress.
Taking advantage of shade is another important strategy. Heat radiating from the Sun adds to the stress produced by warm air temperatures. Staying in the shade can significantly reduce the external heat load on people who have to be outdoors during hot spells.
Many of the hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations that experts have attributed to the recent heat dome in the Northwest probably reflect that buildings there were less equipped to keep people cool than in hotter regions, and residents were less acclimatized to heat.
The old and young are most vulnerable
A healthy adult body can acclimatize to heat, but older people and children are less able to adjust. As people age, their cardiovascular systems change in ways that cause them to pump blood less effectively. This reduces the body’s ability to move heat to the skin to be transferred to the environment.
[The Conversation’s science, health and technology editors pick their favorite stories.Weekly on Wednesdays.]
Children and older adults may also have less active sweat responses, which can reduce their potential to cool off through sweating.
Humans can tolerate most areas of the Earth, but extreme heat requires extra steps. If there’s a heat wave in your local forecast, seek out shade and begin to acclimatize by increasing your activity gradually when things get too hot. Drink more fluids to account for increased fluid loss from sweat, while also making sure not to overhydrate. And avoid outdoor activity during the hottest hours of the day if possible.
Whether heat waves are humid or dry, they are health threats that everyone should take seriously.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With triple-digit temperatures forecast through Monday, and many community members will be seeking opportunities to escape the heat.
For some, county library branches and peer support centers may be a great option.
While none of these are formal cooling centers, and capacity is limited at each site, they are invaluable community resources when temperatures climb.
Lake County’s four public library branches are open during their normal business hours.
While you cool off, check out the many new materials and digital services the Library has to offer — there is something for everyone.
If you are planning to visit, please be advised face coverings are required for people that are not vaccinated.
Library visitors self-attest they are fully vaccinated by entering the building with no mask on. Here is a list of Lake County Library locations, and their hours of operation:
Lakeport Library 1425 N. High St. 707-263-8817 Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Redbud Library (Clearlake) 14785 Burns Valley Road 707-994-5115 Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Middletown Library 21256 Washington St. 707-987-3674 Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Upper Lake Library 310 Second St. 707-275-2049 Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
With another summer heat wave upon us, Lake County Behavioral Health Services also reminds their peer support centers are open as a refuge from the heat.
Each provides an air-conditioned place to sit and rest. Water and light snacks are offered to guests, and restrooms are available. Referrals to social services can also be made. All are welcome.
The Big Oak Peer Support Center 13300 East Highway 20, Suite “O” Clearlake Oaks 707-998-0310 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekends, noon to 4 p.m.
Circle of Native Minds Cultural Center 845 Bevins St. Lakeport 707-263-4880 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Harbor on Main 154 South Main St. Lakeport 707-994-5486 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
La Voz de la Esperanza Centro Latino 14092 Lakeshore Drive Clearlake 707-994-4261 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekends, noon to 4 p.m.
Family Support Center 21389 Stewart St., Suite “E” Middletown 707-987-9601 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Mendocino College’s Lake Center is welcoming its new director this month.
Mónica Flores’ first day at her new job was Thursday, July 1.
The Mendocino College Board of Trustees voted to approve her appointment at its June 9 meeting.
In her new role, she’ll oversee the Lake Center, a satellite campus in Lakeport located 30 miles from the main campus in Ukiah.
Flores told Lake County News the new position will give her the opportunity to implement positive, effective student success strategies at the center, which she said is an entry point to higher education for many Lake County students.
As she begins work at the center, she said it is going well, noting that while she had a lot to learn, “I have a great team at the Lake Center and amazing community support.”
She brings to her new role experience in secondary and higher education, which intersect at the community college level.
The Lake Center, in its location on Parallel Drive, opened for classes in January 2013. Later that year, then-Dean of Instruction Mark Rawitsch — the center’s longtime champion — retired, and a series of directors have followed him since.
Flores arrives at a time when there are hopes not just for long-term leadership for the center but for someone to guide the campus as it prepares to reopen fully for classes following the COVID-19 shutdown.
“The Lake County Friends of Mendocino College welcome Monica Flores as the new Lake Center director. We look forward to joining her efforts to advocate for programs and courses to benefit Lake County students attending Mendocino College,” said Friends member Wilda Shock.
Flores said she wants to continue building partnerships with K-12 school districts and improving dual enrollment pathways that allow high school students to work on their coursework and an associate degree at the same time so they can transfer to a university with sophomore or junior status, saving them time and money.
Her goals include increasing opportunities for community education and increasing services in Spanish. She said Mendocino College is a Hispanic-serving institution, which means that 25% of the overall enrollment is Hispanic. For the Lake Center, that percentage is 32%.
Shock said the Friends are supportive of Flores’ program goals for the campus.
Over the past seven years, Flores has worked as the program manager of the First Year Institute. Before that, she was with the College Assistance Migrant Program, leading teams that included counselors, faculty and classified staff in developing best practices for serving Latino and first generation college students in order to remove barriers, increase access to resources and front load students with tools for success.
She said that the team’s efforts led to improved retention and success rates for first year students and new institutional practices such as the New Student Welcome now available to all first time students at Mendocino College.
Flores lives in Sonoma County, where she was raised, and has two children, a 10-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
Experience in education
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Flores and her family moved to east Los Angeles when she was an infant.
Her father worked for actor Raymond Burr, known for his television portrayal of the attorney Perry Mason. When Burr decided to relocate to Sonoma County to build a vineyard and winery, he offered Flores’ father the opportunity to come with him.
So the Flores family moved to the Dry Creek/Alexander Valley area of Sonoma County when she was about 11 years old. Her father would work for Burr for 30 years; she remembers Burr as being a very nice and generous man.
Flores graduated from Geyserville High School, then went on to Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies with an emphasis in race and ethnicity, and a Master of Arts in education.
She completed her teaching credential, with an emphasis in social society and bilingual education, simultaneously with her master’s degree.
Her educational career began in the classroom, with Flores doing her student teaching and then remaining on staff for a few years at Sequoia High School in Redwood City. There, she taught social studies and English as a second language for newcomer students.
Flores said she wanted to return to Sonoma County and she did, teaching summer school and then applying for, and getting, a job at Sonoma State University as assistant director of a Title VII grant aimed at increasing the number of bilingual teachers in the area.
“That was my entry into higher education,” she said.
She later moved into the student services coordinator for the Sonoma State School of Education.
Flores said she liked working in Sonoma State’s School of Education, where she was employed for nine years.
However, she said she missed working more with the community and K-12 students, so she moved to coordinating migrant education in Mendocino County, developing programs to help increase the academic and social well-being of migrant students.
She then went to work with Mendocino College’s College Assistance Migrant Program about seven years ago, and in the spring of 2018 moved to the First Year Institute. Both of those programs help first-year and first-generation students be successful in community college.
Through those programs, she worked with students from both Lake and Mendocino counties.
When the Lake Center director position became available earlier this year, Flores said she was excited to explore it. “I really saw an opportunity for myself to grow as a professional and to bring some of these practices into a different environment.”
She said the campus acts as a one-stop center for Lake County students, who can come and enroll for classes, apply for financial aid and get tutoring.
For many students in Lake County, the Lake Center is a door to enter higher education. Florist said there is a misconception that attending community college means students weren’t good enough to attend a four-year university, which isn’t true.
“We are an incredibly good option for them to start their college education,” she said.
“We’re seeing more students come to us lately who would be eligible to go to the university,” but can’t because of the financial constraints of COVID-19, Flores added.
They can get a strong educational foundation through community college and will be able to excel if they choose to transfer to a university setting. Flores said that in working in the university setting, she’s seen transfer students with a depth and maturity that she didn’t always see in high school students entering college.
As for what’s ahead, “For the Lake Center, we are going to be coming back with a lot of on-the-ground courses starting in the fall semester,” she said.
The reopening will take some adjustment, but Flores said she is confident they can make students, staff and faculty feel safe.
She’s also looking forward to opportunities to enhance the center, noting they have built good working relationships with K-12 educational partners and the community in general, and the Friends of Mendocino College Lake Center is a supportive and enthusiastic group.
“I think our challenges are more opportunities for us to continue to strengthen our center,” Flores said.
She wants to build a stable schedule of classes to create consistency for students, work with the college’s dean of centers to examine student needs, leverage online resources — being mindful of the challenges some Lake County students have with internet access — and successfully recruit more instructors, which has been a challenge.
“The pool is always open,” she said, referring to the recruiting pool.
As a first-generation college graduate herself, Flores is focused on that group of young people, many of whom lack access to resources, and have the challenge of English being their second language.
In her case, she recalled her parents’ support for education. “We always emphasize how important it is to build on the things you do have,” she said, explaining that first-generation college students can draw from the dreams and work ethic of their parents.
Flores said the college also needs to grow more professional teachers and trades people for the community, as there is a high need for employees in so many areas.
At the same time, Flores said the college needs to make sure its students are ready to take opportunities as they come their way, and people need to be ready to take on jobs and leadership.
“Education is always a strong cornerstone of that,” she said.
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.