U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications open until Sept 15th for drought-related losses

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today reminded small, nonfarm businesses in 35 California counties and neighboring counties in Arizona and Nevada that they have until September 15, 2014, to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).  These loans are to offset economic losses because of reduced revenues to farmers and ranchers caused by the drought that began on January 1, 2014, in the following primary counties, announced Tanya N. Garfield, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center – West.

Primary California counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne and Ventura;

Neighboring California counties: Orange, Placer, Riverside, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sutter and Yolo;

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.

Small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage.  These loans have an interest rate of 4% for businesses and 2.625% for private, nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private, nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance.  Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency (FSA) about the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, in drought disasters nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For owners of these impacted small businesses, disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling toll-free at (800) 659-2955 or e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

The deadline to apply for these loans is September 15, 2014.

Register for The Pebble Beach Zombie Run (2K/5K) on October 18th!

The 1st Annual Pebble Beach Zombie Race and Emergency Preparedness Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2014. We are excited to hold this run in picturesque Pebble Beach on the Fire Defense Roads, from 9:00 am - 12 pm. We have two running courses planned, the challenging 5K Zombie Crawl (think 3.1 miles of steep hills) and the 2K Survivor Stroll (a flat mile that is perfect for strollers and youngsters). After you complete your run, grab a post-race snack from our sponsors and drag yourself around our Emergency Preparedness booths, you might learn something that could help you survive the next zombie apocalypse, or other disasters.

Event Information

•  Register HERE: https://tinyurl.com/ZombieRaceRegistration
•  Fees: Kids FREE; Adults $25
•  Zombie Race Backpack, loaded with goodies!
•  Zombie Race Tee Shirt
•  Emergency Preparedness Vendors
•  Free Zombie Ice Cream
•  10 Emergency Preparedness Backpacks for 2 best dressed Zombies and 8 fastest Runners

Sponsors/Partners:

Pebble Beach Company, Pebble Beach Community Services District, Cypress Fire Protection District, PBCSD/Cypress/Carmel Highlands CERT, Central Coast CERT, Monterey County Office of Emergency Services, Poppy Hills Golf Course, Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula, San Benito-Monterey CAL FIRE Chapter of Local 2881, The SPCA for Monterey County, The California Highway Patrol, The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, The Monterey County Health Department, Monterey County Regional Fire Department, Natividad Medical Center, the Carmel Bagel Bakery, Plumes Coffee, Ana Banana’s Undead Bath & Body Treats, Odwalla, Goddess Garden, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the Carmel Pine Cone.

Info about 6.0 Napa Earthquake

The City of Napa has experienced a 6.0 earthquake with significant damage including structural fires, gas/water line breaks and widespread power outages.

Sonoma County has experienced power outages but no reports of damage.  All other surrounding counties have not experienced any impacts and no other local Emergency Operations Centers are activated.

Both Regional and State Emergency Operations Centers are activated and coordinating resources to affected areas. 

Monterey County has experienced no impacts and is monitoring the situation.

 

As the Initial Damage Assessment continues, more requests for resources and mutual aid may be forthcoming.

_________________________________

State Report:

 

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FLASH INCIDENT REPORT

EVENT NAME: Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake, American Canyon, Napa County (This report may contain unconfirmed information)

DATE/TIME OF REPORT: 08/24/2014 at 0425 hours 

DATE/TIME OF EVENT: 08/24/2014 at 0320 hours 

LOCATION: 5 miles northwest of American Canyon, Napa County

IMPACT OF EVENT: Moderate

SITUATION: On 08/24/2014 at 0320 hours, a verified magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred 5 miles northwest of American Canyon, Napa County. The National Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami Seismic Information Statement advising of a Tsunami is not expected. No report of injuries at this time. 

Emergency Management:
* Napa is currently in initial damage assessment, though there are reports of multiple structure fires. 

Power Outages/Utilities
* Contra Costa reporting power outages and water line breaks in the west side of the county.
* Reports of unknown number of power outages in Sonoma County.

Activations
* Cal OES Coastal REOC and SOC are activating.

Road Closures
* CHP ENTAC is reporting a hard closure at SR 37 and SR 29.

The Cal OES Coastal Region, Law Enforcement and Fire Duty Officers are in contact with local authorities and will provide updates as they become available.

_________________________________

* This event serves as a very real reminder that living in California means living in "Earthquake Country". Residents should be prepared to feel the ground shake, live with no power or other utilities (at least for a little while), and help their communities recover from the impacts in any way that they can.

Visit our website (www.co.monterey.ca.us/OES) or Ready.gov for tips on how to get started.

Also consider:

- Signing up for Alert Monterey County (alertmontereycounty.org) to receive emergency notifications on your cell phone or email

- Making sure that you subscribe to our "Latest News" section and follow us on Twitter (@MontereyCoOES) and Facebook to stay informed

Updated El Niño Outlook

 What is an El Niño?

El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, as opposed to La Niña, which characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. These concepts can have important consequences for weather around the globe.

When an El Niño occurs, the jet stream is shifted south from its position in the Eastern Pacific and can influence the path of storms, moving them right over California. The stronger the El Niño is rated, the farther east the dip moves, and in turn, the more south the storm track moves and more directly above the West Coast it will locate.

This track can bring large amounts of tropical moisture with it, hence the perceived relationship between El Niño events and rain, good snowfall, flooding, etc. It is important to note, however, that an El Niño is not necessarily tied to how much rain that we will receive (that is dictated by atmospheric storm patterns) but rather increases the probability that if the storms occur, they will pass over us instead of the Pacific Northwest and we will receive that precipitation instead.

Update on our local likelihood of developing one this winter:

Reports have been circulating in the media and rumor mill about a developing El Niño this winter, but its strength and likelihood are unknown and have recently been downgraded. Here’s the latest from our local Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Logan Johnson from the National Weather Service station in Monterey -

• Water temperatures in the Pacific near the Equator have not continued to warm as would be expected in a developing El Nino. 
• The probability of an El Nino developing this year has decreased to 65% during Fall and early Winter
• Computer models have delayed the start of El Nino
• No computer forecasts suggest a strong El Nino to develop.
• Most models now suggest a weak El Nino if it does develop.

So the bottom line is that El Nino is less likely to develop, and if it does, a weak event is most favored to occur. 

Remember - El Nino is a poor predictor of rainfall in our area. The best link is observed during strong El Nino events. Drought conditions are likely to continue in our area and there is not currently an expectation that El Nino will alleviate or end the drought conditions. 

What to Do

·       Monitor the drought and El Niño situation and get ideas on conservation strategies at www.co.monterey.ca.us/drought

As of now, we are still in the greatest drought that the State of California has ever seen. Even if a lot of rainfall comes, it will not alleviate the deficits that the state has right now. The Governor has asked people to conserve water by reducing usage by 20%, and this can be achieved through more efficient habits.

·       Register your cell phone at AlertMontereyCounty.org to receive emergency notifications.

Alert Monterey County is the county’s emergency notification system, and now has the capability to register cell phones to receive calls, texts, and/or email alerts to as many places of interest in Monterey County as you desire. For example, if you live in Salinas, work in Pacific Grove, your child goes to school in Monterey and you have a friend in King City, you can opt to receive alerts for all 4 locations. This is vastly improved over the old style, which used the 911 database to reverse call landlines, where you were limited in the mode of reception and type of messages received.

·       Read the “Latest News” section on Monterey County Office of Emergency Services webpage  ( www.co.monterey.ca.us/oes ) for interesting and informative articles, as well as information on developing emergency situations in Monterey County.

·       Check your flashlight and battery inventory

Remember – Weather changes fast. Since we don’t know the extent of our storm season yet, get prepared to deal with power outages and the other issues that arise when the storms blow in so you’re ready this winter.

Search for Missing Hiker - Big Sur

For your information - Monterey County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue members, as well as members from Marin County, Contra Costa County, San Luis Obispo County, and Bay Area Mountain Rescue teams, are involved in the ground operations. Aircraft flying over Carmel Valley (including US Coast Guard, National Guard, Cal FIRE and CHP helicopters, along with a Monterey County Sheriff's Office plane) are also assisting in the search.

via Monterey County Weekly, written by Mark Anderson)

The flier tells the story.

And it's not the most comforting.

"Missing hiker, last seen China Camp on 8/6/14."

Arvin "Chief" Nelson, a longtime server at Big Sur River Inn, has gone missing in the Los Padres wilderness, presumably while on an extended trek.

Today marks the 12th day since he's been seen.

Coworkers describe Nelson as is in his early to mid 50s, 6-foot-3, black and around 200-215 pounds.

Citizen newsblogger Big Sur Kate has this report: 

"Those of you who know this sweet man…he may need your good intentions for his safe return.

"He went on a backpacking trip alone, MAYBE to China Camp, Pine Ridge, to Sykes and was due back Thursday or Friday, but has not been seen, yet."

She adds search-and-rescue teams are into day two of trying to locate him. Helicopters have been deployed, search dogs will likely join the effort soon if they haven't already.

China Camp hides high and deep in Los Padres National Forest, accessible by Pine Ridge Trail from the Big Sur side and Tassajara Road from the Carmel Valley side.

Nelson drives a light yellow Wesphalia-style VW bus.

Any updates should be directed to the 667-2423 at the State Parks Office.

2nd Annual CIG Community Safety Saturday - September 6th

MADD “Crash Car” Exhibit and CHP Start Smart Program to Come to CIG Insurance’s 2nd Annual Community Safety Saturday™ September 6, 2014, in Monterey, California

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) hopes its dramatic exhibit will influence behavior
 to stop drunk driving. CHP Public Information Officer, Jaime Rios will talk to teens and parents about the Start Smart Teen Driving Program.   

Monterey, CA (August, 2014) –- The MADD Central Valley Chapter will bring the dramatic "Crash Car" Exhibit to CIG Insurance’s 2^nd Annual CIG Community Safety Saturday™. Parents and teens will have the opportunity to learn about the CHP’s Start Smart program, a driver safety education class which targets new and future licensed teenage drivers between the age of 15 - 19 and their parents/guardians. CIG Community Safety Saturday will take place at Capital Insurance Group, 2300 Garden Road, on Saturday, September 6, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

MADD can see a future without drunk driving

The “MADD Crash Cars” are visual educational tools presented with the intention to change behaviors and attitudes concerning the dangers of drinking and driving and riding with an impaired driver. The “Crash Car” Exhibit also addresses the excessive use of speed and the failure to use seat belts, and explains the roles that each of these factors play in the injury or death of loved ones.    

The MADD booth will feature graphic displays of auto accidents. Volunteers will distribute informational material related to the dangers and prevention of drunk driving. Victoria Flores, MADD Chapter Leader and Victim Advocate, explains, “Over 10,000 people in the United States are killed by drunk drivers every year. On average, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash every 51 minutes. In 2011, 226 children were killed in drunk driving crashes. These tragedies are 100% preventable."  

CHP believes education is a key to teen driving safety

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States and CIG Insurance is committed to helping to keep teen drivers safe.

Parents and teens will have the opportunity to learn about and sign up for the CHP Start Smart teen driving program at CIG Community Safety Saturday.  Jaime Rios, Public Information Officer, California Highway Patrol remarks, “One of the things that teens need to realize is that a vehicle becomes a deadly weapon when in the hands of someone who is not being responsible.  Both Teens and their parent or guardian attend the class together.  We want them coming out of the class realizing that their actions don’t just affect them --they affect passengers, other drivers, families and friends.”

Kathy and Fred Forgnone lost their daughter, Vanessa, in a car crash in 2002. Since then, they have been volunteering and speaking to teens and parents at classes and at CIG Community Safety Saturday events. Kathy Forgnone remarks, “I think the classes elicit conversation between teens and parents, probably on the way home from the class and at the dinner table with the whole family - there are real ‘heart to heart’ discussions.”

Arne Chatterton, CIG Vice President of Field Operations & Business Relations explains, “We are committed to spreading the message about driver safety classes for teens and making sure there is communication with parents. Programs like the CHP Start Smart Class make quite an impact in every community they touch.”

CIG Community Safety Saturday was developed by a CIG Insurance employee in 2010 and has been held throughout California and Nevada ever since. The event features activities, demonstrations, and educational services designed to improve the safety and security of children, teens, families, and communities. People of all ages will enjoy free games, prizes, and a wealth of materials and information from many different booths staffed by local and regional organizations. 

CIG Community Safety Saturday will feature the following attractions:

Special Presentations for:

o   Jaws of Life Demonstration at 11:30 am provided by the Monterey Fire Department

o    Whiskie the Whale Spotter^™, the famous rescue dog from Marine Life Studies, will perform whale tricks at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm

·     California Highway Patrol will coordinate the child car-seat inspection station. They will also bring safety handouts and present information about their CHP Start Smart Driver Education classes available statewide for teens and their parents. Start Smart classes increase traffic-safety knowledge and better prepare teens for the road ahead.  Fred and Kathy Forgnone will be on hand to talk with attendees about the Start Smart program. 

·     Monterey Police Department will bring a squad car as well as crime prevention information. 

·     Monterey County Sheriff’s Office–Coastal Station Monterey will bring crime prevention handouts as well as their K-9, SWAT Team, and Search and Rescue vehicles. They will also do “meet and greets” with their K-9 team.

·     Monterey County Crime Prevention Officers Association will provide safety brochures.

·    Monterey Fire Department will bring a 55' ladder fire engine and safety information. They will also conduct a Jaws of Life demonstration showing how they cut open a car when necessary to free a driver trapped inside.

·     American Red Cross–Monterey Bay Area Chapter will give out Family Disaster Plans.  Test your knowledge of Disaster Readiness and win prizes when you spin the “Wheel of Preparedness”.

·     California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) will bring a fire engine and fire safety materials.

·     California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services will provide educational materials about how to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis.

·    Monterey County Office of Emergency Services will bring emergency preparedness information.

·    U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will bring water and boating safety materials as well as environmental protection information.

·     Boy Scouts of America–Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council will provide emergency survival and safety tips.

·     Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will provide safety information.

·     Young artists from Youth Arts Collective will be on hand to sketch portraits and share information about YAC, the local after school art studio and mentoring program for artists, ages 14-22.

·     Independent Transportation Network of Monterey County will bring information about its organization that offers rides to seniors and the visually impaired in Monterey County, California.

·     United Way Monterey County will have an information booth including handouts about the 2-1-1 program.

·     U.S. Forest Service will bring informational handouts as well as a wildland fire engine. Smokey Bear will also be on hand if he’s not busy fighting a forest fire!

·      Sponsored by First 5 of Monterey County, MY Museum will bring the Wheelie Mobilee, a playground for the mind and so much more.  

·      Restorative Justice Partners will bring information about dispute resolution programs that foster empathy, accountability and restoration of fairness to victims and the community.

·       Family Service Agency of the Central Coast/Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast will have a bean-bag toss and tic-tac-toe game and distribute their brochures and STOP cards.

·       KlaasKids Foundation will conduct a Print-A-Thon that provides digital photo IDs & fingerprinting for every child.

·     Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) of the Monterey Peninsula will give out materials about turning off the gas/electricity and water in emergencies and simple medical responses learned in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training.

·     Recovers.org will provide information about community resilience and their project in Seaside and Monterey.

·     Central Coast CERT Association will provide emergency preparation information.

·     MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) will bring their “crash car” and provide handouts about the dangers of drinking and driving. 

·       The U.S. Coast Guard will bring their boat and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will provide water, boating and environmental protection information. Auxtter the Sea Otter mascot will also be on hand.    

·        Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District will provide information about trail hiking and wildlife safety.

·       YWCA Monterey County will present information about domestic violence and the services it offers at both its Seaside and Salinas locations.

·       YMCA will provide “Healthy Family Home” handouts and youth development information. 

·       Marine Life Studies will share information about protecting whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife and observing them safely in the wild. Whiskie the Whale Spotter™, a rescue dog, will perform her whale tricks and attendees will learn how Whiskie spots whales from Marine Life Studies' research boat in the Monterey Bay National Sanctuary.

·      Monterey County Boys and Girls Club will have a Wheel of Fortune Safety Game and information about their organization. 

·      Community Partnership for Youth will bring face painters and offer a lanyard-making activity.

·       KION/Telemundo is the media sponsor.

·       Radio station 101.7 The Beach will provide music and prize giveaways. 

At the conclusion of CIG Community Safety Saturday, a drawing will be held for exciting, family- oriented prizes, such as an annual family membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Family Plus annual memberships to MY Museum, four season passes to the 2015 Monterey County Fair, four passes for whale watching at Randy’s Whale Watching & Fishing, four passes to a performance at the Pacific Repertory Theatre, four passes for kayaking from Adventures By The Sea, a family pass to Elkhorn Slough Safari Nature Tours, and a family pass to the Monterey Zoo.   

For more information about the event, please go to www.CIGsafetysaturday.com or call

(831) 233-5500.

Wildfire - Carmel Valley

A small wildfire is currently burning in Carmel Valley. Additional resources, including air tankers, are supporting initial efforts and significant progress has been made.  

At this time, there are no evacuations and no threats of damage. There are also no air-quality issues. 

No action is required at this time.

Updates will be made as appropriate.

_____________________________________________

Update: 1550, 13 August

Fire is now contained. 25 acres burned. No damage to any structures. Demobilization of resources is occurring. 

** Robinson Canyon Road is now open**



Final update. Nothing will follow this message.

New Drought Program - Rental and utility assistance from CET; Nuevo Programa de Sequía - La asistencia de alquiler y utilidad de CET

The Center for Employment Training (cetweb.org) has received $2.1 million dollars to provide eligible individuals and families with assistance for rent and utilities. Inquires should be made directly to CET centers in Salinas or Soledad.

SEE THE FULL LETTER HERE (top line in bold)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

El Centro de Formación de Empleo ( cetweb.org ) ha recibido $ 2.1 millones de dólares para proporcionar a las personas y familias elegibles con asistencia de alquiler y servicios públicos. Pregunta debe hacerse directamente al CET centros en Salinas o Soledad. 

VER LA CARTA COMPLETA AQUÍ  (línea superior en negrita) 

Pets and preparedness - Don't be left chasing your tail!

Pets are an important part of many of our lives. Some would say that Monterey County is one of, if not the most, pet-friendly places in the country. In fact, our local SPCA (spcamc.org) was the first animal welfare agency in the United States to partner with the Red Cross and shelter evacuated pets at the same location where their owners were staying. But even though we have a strong pet support network here, the needs of your pets must also be taken into account  Just as there are things that you can do to prepare yourself, your family, and your community to recover from disasters, here are some good ideas for pet-owners looking out for their furry friends - 

I'm ready - right?

Steps for pet owners to take today:

Ines de Pablo, founder of Wag'n Pet Emergency Management, gives the following "to-do list" for pet owners -

1. Create an emergency contact list. Start with friends or family members who live nearby and can reach you or your pets quickly. Make sure they have keys, necessary codes or other information to access your home, grab the pets and evacuate. "For every Plan A, I have a Plan E," de Pablo says. "Most Plan A's don't happen, so Plan C has to be just as good."

2. Make an emergency kit. Fill a backpack with at least two weeks' worth of food for your pets and plan for at least a gallon of water per day, per pet. If your animal eats wet food, then it will consume less water. Click here for the All Hazards Pet Preparedness Checklist and Evacuation Notice.

3. Stock the basics in an emergency bag. Be sure to include a leash (for dogs and cats), a collar with identification information, a harness and a muzzle, even if your pet is the sweetest in the land. "If an animal rescue person tries to pick up your pet, you don't want your pet biting," she says. "Pets pick up stress, just like people in an emergency, and they can behave in a way that they normally don't."

4. Invest in sturdy pet carriers. Whether your pet goes to a relative or an emergency shelter, it needs a safe place to stay. Try a collapsible crate that is large enough to hold food and water bowls, and allows your pet to stand and turn around. Don't forget to mark it with contact information. It also helps to include a few favorite toys or bedding.

5. Carry copies of documentation. Grab a waterproof container and use it to hold copies of your pet's vital information. The container should hold pictures of your pet, as well as a list of medications, allergies, vaccination records, a rabies certificate, and disaster contacts — inside and outside of the disaster area. When Johnnie Richey was killed in the Joplin tornado, his 9-year-old cocker spaniel was eventually reunited with the owner's sister, Kerri Simms. "Even though her brother is gone, she could retrieve his pet and have a little bit of her brother through that pet. That's why it's so important that you have pictures and out-of-area contacts."

6. Carry photos that show you with your pet. To alleviate any confusion when it's time to recover your pet from an emergency facility, be sure to carry photos that show you and your pet together. Attach those photos as proof of ownership on your pet's crate.

7. Practice makes perfect. Take a weekend and rehearse your emergency evacuation plan. It should include finding alternate exit routes for your neighborhood, just in case a downed tree or other issue creates an obstacle.

8. Don't wait for the second or third warning. Act as soon as you hear a warning. "When pets sense urgency, they hide and you lose valuable time trying to find them," she says. Keep leashes, collars and crates ready at a moment's notice.

For local information, including a list of pet-friendly lodging, look at the SPCA for Monterey County's Disaster Preparedness page.

Chance of showers / embedded thunderstorms

Overview An upper level disturbance will move across the region and interact with monsoonal moisture to produce showers and the possibility of embedded thunderstorms late tonight through Tuesday afternoon. The best chance of measurable precipitation will be across the San Francisco Bay area and points northward. While the threat for thunderstorms has diminished, any lightning strikes that do occur could potentially start a fire.

CONFIDENCE

·  Moderate/Low: Moderate confidence in showers developing across the North Bay Tuesday morning. Lower confidence in thunderstorm potential.

UPDATED INFORMATION

·  Updated timing and potential for thunderstorms. 

TIMING

·  Showers and possible thunderstorms developing after midnight tonight through Tuesday's morning commute.

·  Activity should diminish late Tuesday afternoon or early evening.

LOCATIONS

·  San Francisco and areas northward including Marin, Sonoma and Napa Counties. 

·  Light rain or sprinkles also possible as far south as the Santa Clara Valley and across the Santa Cruz Mountains.

IMPACTS

*Hazards:

·  No watches/warnings/advisories in effect at this time

·  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/fastpage/wwa_bc.php?wfo=mtr

*Impact: Showers and Thunderstorms

·  A potential for fire starts.

·  Wet roadways during Tuesday's morning commute across the San Francisco Bay area. Motorists are advised to drive with extra caution, slow down and allow extra time to reach their destinations. 

·  Clogged storm drains may be overwhelmed during moderate rainfall resulting in brief ponding on the roadways.

*Impact: Rainfall

·  Generally less than 0.05" north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

·  Isolated locations may receive as much as 0.20" in the higher elevations across the North Bay.

NWS will continue to provide updates if the forecast changes.

Monitor NWS Monterey Facebook and Twitter for further updates.

Wildland firefighting video: MAFFS C-130 does fire-retardant drop over Day Fire in California

C-130 loaded with the MAFF system

MAFFS (Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems) are portable fire retardant delivery systems that can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to convert them into airtankers when needed.

MAFFS are important because they can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts when commercial airtankers are not readily available.  They can discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or make variable drops.  Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes. 

Well, if you've ever wanted to see what it's like inside the cockpit while a MAFFS equipped C-130 does a drop over a wildfire, now is your chance. Click the linked text below for a video:

The crew of a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS)-equipped C-130J from the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing makes a run to drop fire retardant on the Day Fire northeast of Redding, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. The crew members are Lt. Col. Bill Willson, aircraft commander, Capt. Jon-Mark Koetitz, co-pilot, and Master Sgt. Charles Watkins and Sr. Airman Cameron Davis, the loadmasters. (Air National Guard video by 146th Airlift Wing Public Affairs. Released.)


And for more informaiton on MAFFS, check out the US Forest Service site - 

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/airplanes/maffs.HTML