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The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert on Oct. 3.
The Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time and the Emergency Alert System, or EAS, portion follows at 11:20 a.m.
The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Oct. 3 was the previously scheduled backup date for the test, which was originally set up for this Thursday, Sept. 20. A backup date is always planned in case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date. FEMA and the nation’s emergency management community remain committed to the life-saving activities occurring through parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.
This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test.
The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in September 2011, 2016 and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.
The EAS test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and is made available to EAS participants including radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.
The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar.
The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”
The WEA test message will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. It allows customers whose wireless provider participates in WEA and who own a WEA compatible wireless phone to receive geo-targeted alerts of imminent threats to safety in their area through unique tones and vibration. The national WEA test will use the same special tone and vibration.
The WEA test will be sent through IPAWS, as part of the nation’s modern alert and warning infrastructure that automatically authenticates alerts. Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the message once.
Significant coordination has been conducted with EAS Participants, wireless providers, and emergency managers in preparation for this EAS-WEA national test.
The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster.
Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is also a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure required for the distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Receiving preparedness tips and timely information about weather conditions or other emergency events can make all the difference in knowing when to take action to be safe.
FEMA and other partners are working to ensure alerts and warnings are received quickly through several different technologies, no matter whether an individual is at home, at school, at work, or out in the community.
The FEMA App, which can be downloaded on both Android and Apple devices, is one way to ensure receiving both preparedness tips and weather alerts of your choice. Download the FEMA App today at https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
More information on the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at www.ready.gov/alerts.
The Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time and the Emergency Alert System, or EAS, portion follows at 11:20 a.m.
The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Oct. 3 was the previously scheduled backup date for the test, which was originally set up for this Thursday, Sept. 20. A backup date is always planned in case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date. FEMA and the nation’s emergency management community remain committed to the life-saving activities occurring through parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.
This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test.
The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in September 2011, 2016 and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.
The EAS test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and is made available to EAS participants including radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.
The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar.
The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”
The WEA test message will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. It allows customers whose wireless provider participates in WEA and who own a WEA compatible wireless phone to receive geo-targeted alerts of imminent threats to safety in their area through unique tones and vibration. The national WEA test will use the same special tone and vibration.
The WEA test will be sent through IPAWS, as part of the nation’s modern alert and warning infrastructure that automatically authenticates alerts. Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the message once.
Significant coordination has been conducted with EAS Participants, wireless providers, and emergency managers in preparation for this EAS-WEA national test.
The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster.
Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is also a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure required for the distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Receiving preparedness tips and timely information about weather conditions or other emergency events can make all the difference in knowing when to take action to be safe.
FEMA and other partners are working to ensure alerts and warnings are received quickly through several different technologies, no matter whether an individual is at home, at school, at work, or out in the community.
The FEMA App, which can be downloaded on both Android and Apple devices, is one way to ensure receiving both preparedness tips and weather alerts of your choice. Download the FEMA App today at https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
More information on the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at www.ready.gov/alerts.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After burning for more than a month and a half, California’s largest wildland fire is finally fully contained.
U.S. Forest Service officials said Wednesday that the Mendocino Complex was 100-percent contained at 459,123 acres.
The complex, made up of the Ranch and River fires, began on July 27 in Mendocino County before moving east into Lake County, and later Colusa and Glenn counties.
The River fire was fully contained Aug. 14 at 48,920 acres, but it took until Wednesday to finally contain the Ranch fire portion of the complex, which has burned 410,203 acres.
The complex claimed the life on Aug. 13 of Draper City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett of Utah, who was killed while working the Ranch fire, and injured four other firefighters.
Altogether the complex has destroyed 157 homes and 123 other structures, and damaged 13 residences and 25 other buildings.
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced earlier this month that, so far, these fires have resulted in more than $56 million in insured losses.
The Forest Service said 464 personnel, seven engines, nine hand crews, one helicopter and 45 dozers remain assigned to the incident.
Throughout the remainder of this week, the Forest Service said those crews will continue to monitor fire activity and repair firelines on the Ranch fire.
There are 22 miles of fireline to repair, and officials said the goal is to reduce erosion and other impacts from suppression activities.
The Forest Service said they’re doing “everything possible to reasonably reduce risks to the public” and reopen areas but there is still a lot of restoration work to do.
As such, the Ranch fire area in the forest remains closed due to hazards including burned standing trees or snags, exposed rebar stakes, logs and rocks that may become loose, and burned-out stump holes. Forest officials said the repair work has to be done before areas can be reopened to the public.
The closure area applies to all public use, including hunting, the use of firearms and off-highway vehicles. The northern half of the forest is open for outdoor activities, officials said.
Forest visitors are instructed to exercise extreme caution near the fire closure since heavy equipment and firefighting vehicles are utilizing area roads. Visitors can contact the ranger station nearest their destination for current information.
Additionally, officials said that, with the current warmer and drier weather, more smoke from well within the perimeter of the fire may still be visible at times.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
U.S. Forest Service officials said Wednesday that the Mendocino Complex was 100-percent contained at 459,123 acres.
The complex, made up of the Ranch and River fires, began on July 27 in Mendocino County before moving east into Lake County, and later Colusa and Glenn counties.
The River fire was fully contained Aug. 14 at 48,920 acres, but it took until Wednesday to finally contain the Ranch fire portion of the complex, which has burned 410,203 acres.
The complex claimed the life on Aug. 13 of Draper City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett of Utah, who was killed while working the Ranch fire, and injured four other firefighters.
Altogether the complex has destroyed 157 homes and 123 other structures, and damaged 13 residences and 25 other buildings.
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced earlier this month that, so far, these fires have resulted in more than $56 million in insured losses.
The Forest Service said 464 personnel, seven engines, nine hand crews, one helicopter and 45 dozers remain assigned to the incident.
Throughout the remainder of this week, the Forest Service said those crews will continue to monitor fire activity and repair firelines on the Ranch fire.
There are 22 miles of fireline to repair, and officials said the goal is to reduce erosion and other impacts from suppression activities.
The Forest Service said they’re doing “everything possible to reasonably reduce risks to the public” and reopen areas but there is still a lot of restoration work to do.
As such, the Ranch fire area in the forest remains closed due to hazards including burned standing trees or snags, exposed rebar stakes, logs and rocks that may become loose, and burned-out stump holes. Forest officials said the repair work has to be done before areas can be reopened to the public.
The closure area applies to all public use, including hunting, the use of firearms and off-highway vehicles. The northern half of the forest is open for outdoor activities, officials said.
Forest visitors are instructed to exercise extreme caution near the fire closure since heavy equipment and firefighting vehicles are utilizing area roads. Visitors can contact the ranger station nearest their destination for current information.
Additionally, officials said that, with the current warmer and drier weather, more smoke from well within the perimeter of the fire may still be visible at times.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday evening heard from Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s chief administrative officer about the hospital's evacuation and reopening due to the Mendocino Complex.
The hospital was closed for 12 days to the River fire arm of the complex, reopening on Aug. 10, as Lake County News has reported.
“Our team did some really amazing things during that time,” hospital Chief Administrative Officer Dan Peterson said.
Peterson said Sutter Lakeside staff was helped by other facilities in the Sutter Health system, including a sister facility in Santa Rosa that had gone through an evacuation last fall.
He said Sutter Lakeside reopened six days after the mandatory evacuations were lifted, which he added was very quick considering the testing and requirements it had to meet before taking patients again.
On July 28, the hospital evacuated 15 patients to other facilities, Peterson said.
During the following week, Peterson said a team of three to five people was on site at all times, with a number of staffers living on site around the clock.
He said it was especially important to have maintenance staff on site in order to do the kind of required ongoing maintenance that prevented equipment like its multimillion dollar MRI machine from being damaged.
Peterson said he was on site with security guards watching flames come down the ridge. He said he encouraged them to go and take care of their own homes, but they refused to go because they wanted to ensure the hospital was safe.
“It was a very meaningful time for me,” he said.
The hospital staff turned off the air conditioning units and sealed them from the outside, which stopped smoke intrusion and damage, Peterson said.
However, at the same time, the inside of the facility suffered significant temperature damage, with two semi loads of pharmaceuticals needing to be replaced. He said the items that they had to discard because they no longer met accreditation standards actually were donated to a third world mission project so will still be put to use.
Peterson said the hospital then had constant shipments of new supplies arriving, although there were some items they had a hard time acquiring due to existing shortages.
Over a four-day period, Peterson said the hospital was completely restocked and thoroughly cleaned, and all electrical equipment was retested, thanks to a team of 200 people.
Councilman Kenny Parlet asked Peterson about the cost of restocking and cleaning the hospital.
Peterson said they are still figuring that out for the purpose of insurance, adding they also paid people through the closure. “It's several million dollars all told. I don't have the final number yet.”
Mayor Mireya Turner said it was a good reminder that there is an incredibly dedicated team at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
Council awards bid for Lakeshore Boulevard repair project
In other business on Tuesday evening, the council awarded to Granite Construction the bid for the city’s final emergency repair project on Lakeshore Boulevard.
Public Works Director Doug Grider said Granite was the low bidder at $239,556.
His written report said the project is a result of storm damage that occurred during the flooding in January and February of 2017.
“The project area is from 100 feet south of Sayre Street to 300 feet north of Jones Street. Work consists of replacing damaged pavement sections, replacing drainage inlets and culverts and minor sidewalk repair. This project will repair the shoulder area of Lakeshore Boulevard that has been barricaded off since the storms,” Grider wrote.
His report said the majority of the funding is from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program, which reimburses 88.53 percent of the construction costs. The city is required to contribute 11.47 percent of the total cost for the project.
“We have to get it done before the lake comes up,” Grider told the council.
Parlet said he was concerned that the project appeared to have been bid 70 percent higher than the city engineer’s estimate of $143,732.50, adding it felt like the city was being taken advantage of.
“This is the new norm for what construction's going to cost us now,” Grider replied.
He explained that, during the recession, companies were working at cost just to keep going. Now with a number of factors, including an improving economy, and disasters such as floods and fires, “now you’re looking at a very small contractor pool.”
Many small contractors dropped out of the business. “This is something that works in a cycle. This is not the first time I've seen this happen,” he said.
Grider said he doesn’t expect prices will come back down in the near future, explaining that they could see a three- to four-year cycle of rising prices until more smaller contractors come back into the market.
During the discussion, Grider noted that the city engineer’s estimate was done two years ago, and that it had taken that long to get through the Federal Highway Administration’s program.
Police chief gives after action report on fireworks
Lakeport Fire Chief Brad Rasmussen presented the council with the after action report on his agency’s operations relating to fireworks on July 4, which the council voted to receive and file.
He said there were no major issues in the downtown during the Independence Day festivities, with one lost child and one arrest for public intoxication.
While it looked like police received fewer calls about illegal fireworks, Rasmussen said that doesn’t mean there were fewer issues, as many times people don’t call them in.
He said there were a lot of illegal fireworks being shot off around town, and especially in the Safeway shopping center on 11th Street.
While officers were engaged in a drunk driving vehicle stop, they wanted a truck shooting illegal fireworks off over homes on 11th Street, Rasmussen said.
“They didn't care there were police cars there, they just shot them right out of the truck,” he said.
Turner asked how easy it is for police officers to tell the difference between illegal and safe and sane fireworks.
Rasmussen said it’s very easy, noting that illegal fireworks shoot high into the air and have flaming material, while safe and sane fireworks have the state fire marshal seal.
He said that, depending on the amount and type of explosive content, possession of them can lead to felony violations. Getting illegal fireworks, he added, is very easy.
Parlet asked about a public information campaign. Rasmussen said they had done more media outreach this year than any other year.
Also on Tuesday, staff and council members noted that they thought the National Night Out event the previous evening in Library Park was a great success, with Public Works staff having worked hard to have new playground equipment in place.
Rasmussen said he believed it was the best National Night Out in the six years the city has hosted the event, adding he was still getting messages from people in the community who really appreciated it.
He said having it in Library Park was one of the factors that made for its success, suggesting that the city should think of holding it there again next year.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
091818 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Authorities are seeking information about a late August assault, with a reward being offered to those who help identify the assailants.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that at 1 a.m. Aug. 26 sheriff’s deputies responded to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for an assault report.
At the hospital they contacted the victim, who reported he had been assaulted at his residence located in the area of Waldo Lane in Lakeport, Paulich said.
Paulich said the victim reported that two males entered his residence at approximately 10 p.m. Aug. 25 and assaulted him.
One of the suspects brandished a firearm at the victim. Paulich said the suspects took cash from the victim and left the residence.
He said the suspects were described as one dark-skinned Hispanic male and one light-skinned Hispanic male, who were unknown to the victim.
There is a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for this crime, Paulich said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that at 1 a.m. Aug. 26 sheriff’s deputies responded to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for an assault report.
At the hospital they contacted the victim, who reported he had been assaulted at his residence located in the area of Waldo Lane in Lakeport, Paulich said.
Paulich said the victim reported that two males entered his residence at approximately 10 p.m. Aug. 25 and assaulted him.
One of the suspects brandished a firearm at the victim. Paulich said the suspects took cash from the victim and left the residence.
He said the suspects were described as one dark-skinned Hispanic male and one light-skinned Hispanic male, who were unknown to the victim.
There is a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for this crime, Paulich said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Employment Development Department announced that workers, business owners and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs or had their work hours substantially reduced as a result of the Carr fire in Shasta County or the Mendocino Complex fire in Lake County now have until Oct. 12 to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.
The previous deadline to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or DUA, benefits was Sept. 10 for the Carr fire and Sept. 21 for the Mendocino Complex fire.
President Trump’s amended federal disaster declarations on Aug. 4 and Aug. 17 provide DUA benefits for people who were affected by the fires in Shasta and Lake counties.
DUA provides temporary unemployment benefits to people whose jobs or work hour losses are a direct result of a disaster and who do not qualify for regular state unemployment insurance benefits, such as business owners or self-employed individuals.
Affected individuals are encouraged to apply for DUA through the EDD, which will first check to see if applicants can qualify for state unemployment benefits, and if not, process the claim for federal disaster unemployment benefits.
DUA applies to losses beginning the week of July 29.
Individuals can receive up to $450 a week for a maximum of 27 weeks. These unemployment insurance benefits are offered to victims of a disaster and available to individuals who meet any of the following criteria:
– Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment, in the disaster area.
– Cannot reach work because of the disaster or can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
– Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
– Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
– Became the head of their households because of a death caused by the disaster.
– Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and remain unemployed as a direct result of the disasters.
To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed.
Required documentation includes a Social Security number and a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs, or documentation to support that the individuals were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. Documentation for the self-employed can be obtained from banks or government entities, or affidavits from individuals having knowledge of their business.
The fastest and easiest way for new claimants to apply for DUA is to use EDD’s UI Online application, which is available in both English and Spanish.
Claimants can also apply for DUA by phone between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, Monday through Friday:
English: 1-800-300-5616
Spanish: 1-800-326-8937
Chinese (Cantonese): 1-800-547-3506
Chinese (Mandarin): 1-866-303-0706
Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058
TTY: 1-800-815-9387
EDD’s Disaster-Related Services Web page includes more information for individuals and businesses impacted by disasters, including tax filing extensions for affected employers. EDD also encourages individuals to visit the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services wildfire recovery Web site for information on Local Assistance Centers where individuals, families and businesses can access disaster assistance programs and services.
The previous deadline to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or DUA, benefits was Sept. 10 for the Carr fire and Sept. 21 for the Mendocino Complex fire.
President Trump’s amended federal disaster declarations on Aug. 4 and Aug. 17 provide DUA benefits for people who were affected by the fires in Shasta and Lake counties.
DUA provides temporary unemployment benefits to people whose jobs or work hour losses are a direct result of a disaster and who do not qualify for regular state unemployment insurance benefits, such as business owners or self-employed individuals.
Affected individuals are encouraged to apply for DUA through the EDD, which will first check to see if applicants can qualify for state unemployment benefits, and if not, process the claim for federal disaster unemployment benefits.
DUA applies to losses beginning the week of July 29.
Individuals can receive up to $450 a week for a maximum of 27 weeks. These unemployment insurance benefits are offered to victims of a disaster and available to individuals who meet any of the following criteria:
– Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment, in the disaster area.
– Cannot reach work because of the disaster or can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
– Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
– Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
– Became the head of their households because of a death caused by the disaster.
– Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and remain unemployed as a direct result of the disasters.
To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed.
Required documentation includes a Social Security number and a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs, or documentation to support that the individuals were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. Documentation for the self-employed can be obtained from banks or government entities, or affidavits from individuals having knowledge of their business.
The fastest and easiest way for new claimants to apply for DUA is to use EDD’s UI Online application, which is available in both English and Spanish.
Claimants can also apply for DUA by phone between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, Monday through Friday:
English: 1-800-300-5616
Spanish: 1-800-326-8937
Chinese (Cantonese): 1-800-547-3506
Chinese (Mandarin): 1-866-303-0706
Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058
TTY: 1-800-815-9387
EDD’s Disaster-Related Services Web page includes more information for individuals and businesses impacted by disasters, including tax filing extensions for affected employers. EDD also encourages individuals to visit the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services wildfire recovery Web site for information on Local Assistance Centers where individuals, families and businesses can access disaster assistance programs and services.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss several appeals of abatement orders and administrative citations, and also will consider a committee appointment.
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda are several public hearings. Two are for abatement appeal orders for 3215 12th St. and 15582 21st Ave., with two more for administration citation appeals for 15800 20th Ave. and 3351 10th St.
Under business, the council will consider appointing one of its members to a hazard mitigation planning committee.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda are several public hearings. Two are for abatement appeal orders for 3215 12th St. and 15582 21st Ave., with two more for administration citation appeals for 15800 20th Ave. and 3351 10th St.
Under business, the council will consider appointing one of its members to a hazard mitigation planning committee.
Email Elizabeth Larson at