CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly shot at a housemate during an argument.

Jimmy Evans, 63, was arrested following the incident, which occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday and involved his housemate, Joshua Seltzer, 28, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Dominic Ramirez.

Ramirez said that at approximately 8:16 a.m. Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to 14750 Highlands Way after numerous callers contacted law enforcement to report hearing what they described as a firearm being discharged and an argument at the home.

Officers arrived at the residence and six individuals were located and detained without incident. In addition there was information that a seventh subject may have been at the home but that individual was not located, Ramirez said.

A Clearlake Police K9 unit was requested to assist with clearing the residence and surrounding property. Ramirez said officers conducted a protective sweep of the residence to find anyone who was injured or any outstanding suspects, with none being located.

He said the investigation revealed a verbal dispute took place between Seltzer and Evans. During the confrontation, Evans was in possession of a firearm and allegedly discharged it in Seltzer's direction.

Ramirez said police also received information that Evans allegedly threatened Seltzer while shooting at him.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence. As a result, two loaded firearms were seized along with ammunition, Ramirez said. Police also found evidence that a the firearm had been discharged.

He said Evans was arrested for negligent discharge of a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats, and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Joshua Seltzer was discovered to have a felony warrant out of San Francisco and subsequently was arrested for the warrant, Ramirez said.

The other four individuals contacted at the residence were identified and later released at the scene after it was determined they had not committed any crimes and were not associated with the shooting incident, Ramirez said.

The alleged seventh subject was not identified as being a part of the shooting and has not been identified, Ramirez said. It is believed the individual fled the property prior to police arrival.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Officer Crandall at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Sacramento man was arrested Friday following a two-vehicle crash that closed down a portion of Highway 20 east of the Lake and Colusa County line.

Robert Towns, 21, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs after the wreck, which occurred just after 8 p.m. Nov. 2 on Highway 20 east of Mitchell Flat, several miles inside Colusa County, as Lake County has News reported.

The California Highway Patrol’s Williams office reported that Towns was driving eastbound on Highway 20, with a 17-year-old male driver – who was not identified – approaching in the westbound lane.

The CHP said Towns lost control of his vehicle, a 1992 Jeep Cherokee, and crossed the solid double-yellow lines, hitting the teenage driver, who was driving a van, according to reports from the scene.

Both of the vehicles came to rest blocking the eastbound lane and partially blocking the highway’s westbound lane, the CHP said.

Towns had a 16-month-old female toddler in his vehicle. The CHP said the toddler was in a car seat, however, it was not properly restrained in the Jeep.

A CalStar air ambulance flew Towns to Enloe Hospital in Chico. There, Towns was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and then released due to his injuries, the CHP said.

Initial CHP reports had stated that a large amount of drugs had been found in Towns’ vehicle in a diaper bag.

The teenage driver and his passenger complained of pain but refused treatment at the scene. The CHP said Enloe paramedics took the toddler and her mother to Colusa Regional Medical Center, where they were treated and released.

The CHP and a Colusa County Sheriff’s deputy opened the westbound lane and performed one-way traffic control. The eastbound lane was closed for approximately one hour.

During the roadway closure, a separate arrest for driving under the influence took place, according to the CHP.

That driver was traveling eastbound on Highway 20 and entered the collision scene, where a CHP sergeant conducting traffic control stopped him and subsequently arrested the man for being under the influence of drugs, the CHP reported.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – November is National Family Caregivers Month and it’s still not too late to recognize family caregivers.

Now – and even throughout the year – is the time to acknowledge all who contribute to caregiving for a family member.

It is also an opportunity to focus on the many challenges facing family caregivers, to advocate for public policies that address family caregiving issues and to raise awareness about community programs designed to support family caregivers.

The National Family Caregivers Association began promoting the celebration of family caregivers in 1994.

President Clinton signed the first presidential proclamation in 1997 to focus attention on the more than 65 million family caregivers who provide 80 percent of the long-term care services in the United States.

As interest grew in family caregiving issues, National Family Caregivers Week became National Family Caregivers Month.

Who is a family caregiver? The 75-year-old man across the table from you at Burger King is a caregiver. Watch how he feeds his wife, who has Alzheimer’s Disease, small bites of her burger with a smile.

That young mother who campaigns for specialized therapy for her 2-year-old autistic son is a caregiver.

The wife guiding her husband as he practices crossing the street safely is a caregiver. Since he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, their lives have been turned upside down.

Family caregivers juggle enormous responsibilities with everyday demands to meet the needs of their loved ones.

Caregivers play a crucial role in helping family members and friends get the care they need to overcome or cope with the daily challenges of a disabling or chronic condition.

Many caregivers are folks who graciously sacrifice their resources and time to provide for an ailing parent, sibling or friend.

A recent study by the AARP revealed that family caregivers provide nearly $400 billion each year in “free caregiving services” for older adults.

Celebrating family caregivers during the month of November enables all of us to:

• Acknowledge our appreciation of the efforts of family caregivers;
• Raise awareness of family caregiver issues;
• Advocate for increased support for family caregivers;
• Educate family caregivers about self-identification beyond their image as caregiver.

Caregivers deserve a lot of praise and should know that there are resources and programs in the health care, legal and financial field that may help them plan for their loved one’s long-term care.

Here are some tips for caregivers and for those who want to lend support:

• Organize a circle of support. Caregiving often lasts for years and caregivers may need different forms of support and assistance as one's caregiving responsibilities evolve. Even if you've been a solo caregiver, it's never too early or too late to organize a circle of support. Make a detailed list of all the responsibilities, tasks, appointments and errands you manage. Then decide which could be done by someone else. Invite family and friends to a meeting. Many people are pleased to hear you need their specific skills even if they can't provide direct care to the sick person.
• Divide your reserves of compassion wisely. Save some compassion, forgiveness and kindness for yourself. Express compassion by prioritizing time for your health and well-being. Forgive yourself for what you don't know, didn't do exactly right, didn't say kindly that time. Remember, you are only human.
• Update your self-image beyond caregiving. Caregiving can be all-consuming. Take stock periodically and update how you view yourself and how you want others to know you. Hold out a few hopes and dreams of your own. Take small steps to make them happen.

And here are some tips for supporters:

• Join a circle of support. It’s never too late to get involved. Offer companionship, help with errands, physical therapy, professional skills, etc. Specify whether your help can be one time, intermittent or ongoing. Support circles work best when expectations and offers are spelled out clearly.
• Get involved in a policy or political issue. Advocate for more funding for eldercare services. Call your elected officials and ask them to vote for funding for programs that educate and support family caregivers. Write a letter supporting the Strengthening Services for America’s Seniors Act.
• Offer a caregiver the chance to feel “normal.” Caregivers also appreciate humor, distraction or a chance to go out for fun and not talk about caregiving.

Family caregiving is an issue for all of us. It has been said that there are four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently a caregiver, those who will be caregivers and those who will need a caregiver. Few of us will be excluded. Take action not only this month, but throughout the year to reach out and assist a family caregiver by providing a ride, a meal or some respite time for them.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a caregiver, contact Lake County Department of Social Services Adult Services division at 707-995-4680 and ask for the IHSS Public Authority Registry.

Todd Metcalf is the Adult Services Program Manager at Lake County Department of Social Services.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After months of federal, state and local campaigns, it’s time to wrap up the 2012 election.

Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 21 polling places around Lake County.

In addition to the focal point presidential race between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, there are 154 legislative and congressional seats up for election across California on Tuesday, with 320 certified federal and state candidates on the ballot, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein is running for reelection against Republican Elizabeth Emken. Democratic Congressman John Garamendi and Republican challenger Kim Vann, a Colusa County supervisor, are battling for the new Third District Congressional seat, which would represent the northern half of Lake County.

Congressman Mike Thompson is seeking reelection in the new Fifth District – which covers the rest of Lake County – against Republican Randy Loftin.

For California Assembly, the race for the redrawn Fourth Assembly District is between Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) and John Munn, also of Davis, a Republican and retired scientist.

Here at home, there are a number of local and statewide measures to consider.

On this fall’s ballot, three seats are open on each of the city councils for Lakeport and Clearlake. There also are a number of school board trustees appearing on local ballots.

The spotlight race for Lake County this fall is the race for the Lake County Superior Court Department 1 bench. Lakeport attorneys Judy Conard and Michael Lunas are each hoping to become the county’s next judge, succeeding retiring Judge David Herrick.

Local measures include Measure E, a half-cent sales tax that would be dedicated to projects to improve Clear Lake; Measure F, which does not impose new taxes, but which would allow South Lake County Fire Protection District to increase its limits on spending; and Measure G, a one-cent sales tax limited to the city of Clearlake, where it would be used for roads and code enforcement.

Both Measure E and Measure G must pass by super majorities of 66 percent or more in order that the funds may be dedicated to the specific proposed uses.

On the statewide level, there are 10 initiatives and a referendum on the ballot, with all of the initiatives requiring a simple majority to win, unless the measure’s language specifies otherwise, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.

Perhaps the most hotly contested of the propositions is Proposition 37, which would require genetically engineered food to be labeled, and Proposition 30 and Proposition 38, which are vying with each other as alternatives to addressing California’s school funding needs. Proposition 34 proposes to abolish California’s death penalty, and Proposition 36 would revise the state’s “Three Strikes” law to only impose life sentences when the new felony is violent or serious.

The California Secretary of State’s Office reported last week that a record number of Californians – 18,245,970, or 76.7 percent of those who are eligible – are registered to vote.

Lake County has 34,938 residents registered to vote this year, slightly under its 2008 presidential election registration total.

In Lake County, 53 percent of the individuals registered to vote for Tuesday – or 18,647 – are registered to vote by mail.

Absentee ballot can be dropped off throughout the day at the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, located on the second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-2372.

All vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the county elections official by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

If absentee voters wish to vote at a polling place, they can take their unused ballot to a precinct and turn it over to a poll worker to receive a new one. For those without their ballots, a provisional ballot will be provided.

For those voters who did not receive a ballot by mail, they can go to any polling place or the county elections office and cast a provisional ballot.

For the 16,068 Lake County voters who plan to cast their ballots at a precinct, Lake County News has mapped the precincts based on the Registrar of Voters’ final precinct list, obtained this week. It can be seen above.

Once the voting is done, county election officials such as Lake County Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley will have 28 days to complete vote tallying and auditing in order to certify the final results for the California Secretary of State.

The California Secretary of State’s Office offers a toll-free voter hotline, 800-345-VOTE (8683) for those with questions on Election Day.

The service can give a voter the address of their polling place and other election-related information. Voters may also confidentially report voter intimidation or potential election fraud by calling the line.

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.

The majority of collisions in California that end in death or injury begin with a speeding or aggressive driver. To address this issue, the California Highway Patrol is embarking on a yearlong, lifesaving endeavor to reduce the frequency of these collisions throughout the state.

To assist the CHP in this traffic safety effort, the department has received a federally-funded grant titled, “Reduce Aggressive Driving Incidents and Tactically Enforce Speed (RADIATES).”  

The CHP’s anti-speed campaign will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

“Despite our strenuous educational efforts, excessive speed, coupled with aggressive driving, consistently cause a high percentage of fatal and injury collisions,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “These drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but to every single driver whose path they cross.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines aggressive driving as “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”  

Aggressive drivers often commit multiple moving violations in addition to speeding, such as following too closely, passing without sufficient clearance, improper lane change, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper turning movements and driving in violation of cell phone and testing laws.

Statistical data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System for 2010 – the most recent year for which final figures are available – indicates there were more than 132,000 collisions where speed was the primary cause, resulting in the deaths of 435 people and injury to nearly 72,000 others.

“Speed limits are not merely a suggestion, they exist for the public’s safety,” added Commissioner Farrow. “If motorist will drive within the speed limit, fewer injuries will occur on the road and more importantly, lives will be saved.”

The primary goal with the RADIATES grant is to reduce the number of fatal and injury traffic collisions attributed to speed and the number of people killed and injured in those collisions by at least five percent.  

To achieve this, the CHP will deploy enhanced enforcement and public awareness campaigns statewide.  

Speeding motorists may also be receiving an additional “wake up call” with an increase in the use of radar trailer deployments throughout the state.  

The grant also seeks to reduce the number of fatal and injury collisions caused by improper turning and driving on the wrong side of the road, as well as the number of people killed and injured in those collisions, by at least 5 percent.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Some new kittens and cats have joined the pets available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

Along with the kittens are several very cool adult cats that would love to be spend their fall getting used to a new home.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

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

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

Gray male tabby

This handsome gray male tabby is 2 years old.

He has a fluffy medium-length coat, weighs nearly 9 pounds and has been neutered, so he’s all ready to join a new home.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 11a, ID No. 34357.

Female torbie kitten

This female kitten is 4 months old.

She has a short torbie-colored coat and gold eyes, weighs 3.6 pounds and has been spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 20a, ID No. 34743.

Gray tabby kitten

This gray tabby kitten is 4 months old.

He has green eyes, a short coat, weighs 3.6 pounds and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 20d, ID No. 34746.

Buff-colored female kitten

This female buff-colored kitten is 4 months old.

She has a long coat, weighs 2.6 pounds and has been spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 20e, ID No. 34792.

Domestic long hair mix

This black and white female domestic long hair mix cat is 3 years old.

She has green eyes, is of medium size and has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 34632.

Gray and white domestic long hair

This male domestic long hair mix is 1 year old.

He has green eyes and is a smaller-sized cat. He has not yet been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 54, ID No. 34655.

Gray female tabby

This female gray tabby is 4 years old.

She has a short cat, is quite friendly and personable, and has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 63, ID No. 34571.

Male gray tabby

This male gray tabby is 1 year old.

He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 100, ID No. 34479.

Female torbie

This female torbie is 3 years old.

She has gold eyes, a short coat and weighs 5 pounds. She has been spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 105, ID No. 34742.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

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

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

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

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

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The next in a series of community meetings on the new Clearlake General Plan will take place this weekend.

The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 10., in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The first community meeting was held on Oct. 27, as Lake County News has reported. It focused on what community members like and dislike about Clearlake, and how to improve the city.

A general plan is a blueprint for the city’s future development and planning.

The Nov. 10 meeting will focus on the 11 different elements of the general plan and the community’s preference on different future directions, according to representatives with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s City and Regional Planning Department.

The city of Clearlake is working with the college and a team of 14 graduate students under the direction of Cornelius Nuworsoo, who has experience working on over 20 different city general plans.

Team members began visiting Clearlake early last month in order to begin the extensive research needed to complete the document.

City Manager Joan Phillipe told Lake County News in a previous interview that the city’s general plan is about 30 years old, and has long needed updating.

She said the new plan is expected to be completed by the end of June 2013. Additional meetings are planned at each step of the plan development process over the next several months.

More information about the plan and the process to create it can be found at www.planclearlake.weebly.com .

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman was arrested on Sunday for several drug related charges, including taking drugs and paraphernalia into the Lake County Jail.

Chelsea Dawson, 22, was taken into custody on Sunday evening, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.

At 7 p.m. Sunday Clearlake Police officers responded to an apartment in the 3800 Block of Old Highway 53 to conduct a parole search of 27-year-old Clearlake resident Thomas Nordahl, Hobbs said.    

During the search, Dawson was contacted and found to be under the influence of a controlled substance, according to Hobbs.

He said Dawson was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and transported directly to the Lake County Jail.

During a more thorough search by Lake County Jail staff, Dawson was found to have approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine and a glass pipe concealed inside one of her body cavities, Hobbs said.

As a result, Hobbs said she was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of drug paraphernalia and bringing a controlled substance into the jail.

Jail records indicated she was being held on $25,000 bail. She remained in custody on Monday.

Anyone with information regarding the unlawful possession or sales of controlled substances can contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sonoma County Sheriff’s officials assisted with the rescue of four adults and several children found with an overturned boat in Tomales Bay on Sunday.

Just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Helicopter Unit (Henry-1) along with the Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to an overturned boat in the surf at the mouth of Tomales Bay just south of Bodega Bay, the agency reported.

Both units were focusing their patrols on the area because this weekend is opening day of recreational crab season.

Personnel from the US Coast Guard, the National Park Service (Rescue-29), Marin County Fire Department and the Bodega Bay Fire Department also responded.

The Sonoma County helicopter unit arrived in less than two minutes and found four people clinging to an overturned boat; one of them was holding a 3-year-old child, officials reported. None were wearing life jackets.

Sheriff's Pilot Paul Bradley landed on a nearby beach along with Deputy Sheriff Debbie Little and prepared for a long-line rescue.

The first person rescued was the 3-year-old, and then Pilot Bradley and Deputy Little returned to the overturned boat and, one by one, rescued the remaining persons from the hull of the overturned boat as it was being battered in the surf.

These five persons were long-lined to a nearby beach and turned them over to Marin County Fire Department personnel. The rescue of the first five took approximately nine minutes, Sonoma County Sheriff’s officials reported.

During the rescue, it was learned that two more children were trapped under the overturned boat. Due to the heavy surf, rescue personnel were unable to access the underside of the boat.

Rescue personnel from the National Park Service (Rescue-29) arrived and were able to tie the overturned boat to their rescue boat, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reported. The overturned boat was towed to a safer location out of the surf and the two children were rescued.

All but one person on board the overturned boat were taken to an area hospital and treated for their injuries. The owner of the boat was from Elk Grove, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reported.

This incident could easily have turned tragic. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reminds everyone about the importance of wearing life jackets.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership, a group of regional stakeholders working together to conserve the Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area (BRBNA), will hold a meet and greet event to be held on Friday, Nov. 9.

The gathering will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pope Valley Farm Center, 5700 Chiles Pope Valley Road, St. Helena.

According to UC Davis, “The BRBNA focuses on Blue Ridge and the lands to the east and west of the ridge, down to the Capay Valley on the east side and over towards Coyote, Long, and Pope valleys on the west. It stretches from Monticello Dam in the south to the area north of Highway 20 between Williams and Clear Lake.”

This is an opportunity to meet the new program Director Mary Adelzadeh and learn about initiatives to conserve the natural and working landscape of the region.

At the meeting, partners and members of the public will be invited to introduce themselves and their conservation work/interests in the BRBNA.

Appetizers and drinks will be served. Please R.S.V.P. by Nov. 7 by calling Mary at 530-402-5404, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Founded in 1997, the partnership provides a forum for public and private land managers to meet and discuss conservation activities and interests.

The group has since grown to more than 100 members, including federal and state agencies, counties and other public entities, local businesses, nonprofit organizations and conservation-minded landowners – all with the common goal of promoting collaborative conservation of the natural and working landscape of the BRBNA.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A woman was hit by a vehicle in Clearlake Monday morning and flown to a regional trauma center, while the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Kelli Nolan, 48, was injured in the incident, which occurred in the 15000 block of Lakeshore Drive, according to Sgt. Dominic Ramirez.

He said Nolan was flown to U.C. Davis Medical Center for further treatment. Nolan is reported to be in stable condition.

Ramirez said that at approximately 8:39 a.m. Clearlake Police officers were dispatched on a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision.

Witnesses at the scene placed Nolan in the crosswalk, walking north across Lakeshore Drive when she was struck by a 1999 Honda traveling eastbound on Lakeshore Drive, Ramirez said.

Ramirez said the Honda was driven by 18-year-old Clearlake resident Calvin Barnett.

Officer Paulsen, who has been assigned as the investigator of this traffic collision, subsequently arrested Barnett for driving while under the influence of a controlled substance believed to be marijuana, Ramirez said.

The collision is still under investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Officer Paulsen at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.

On Sunday, the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) announced that eight state, city and county-level emergency managers are currently being deployed to the East Coast to assist in the ongoing recovery process of Hurricane Sandy.

This is the latest in ongoing resource coordination efforts under way at the State Operations Center (SOC) inside Cal EMA’s Headquarters in Mather, Calif.

“Often the hardest part of a disaster isn’t the initial impact, but taking care of the critical needs of survivors left in its wake,” said Cal EMA Secretary Mark Ghilarducci. “That’s why it’s so important that we do our part by offering assistance and send experts from throughout California who are highly-skilled in emergency management and coordination. Our hearts go out to those still struggling to recover.”

The eight personnel tasked for deployment today are coming from the City of Los Angeles, City and County of San Francisco and Cal EMA’s Coastal Region.

The deployed staff is headed for Westchester County Department of Emergency Services in Hawthorne, New York, just 30 miles north of New York City.

Sunday’s deployment of specifically skilled personnel was coordinated by Cal EMA through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, a national agreement among all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The EMAC allows for emergency resources to be made available in a neighbor-helping-neighbor system before, during and after a major disaster.

EMAC is used in conjunction with federal disaster assistance and other regional mutual aid agreements.

“Right now, we’re currently very focused on these recovery operations and requests coming from the east coast,” said Tina Curry, director of the activated State Operations Center. “These emergency managers are going to give a big boost to the local staff there and assist them any way they can.”

Since before Hurricane Sandy made landfall on U.S. soil, Cal EMA has been working with emergency managers throughout California, California Utilities Emergency Association, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation, California Department of Public Health, California Emergency Services Authority, California Department of Social Services and America Red Cross to provide assistance and stand ready to meet the needs of the affected states.

Other deployments include:

• California National Guard deployed the 129th Rescue Wing including two C-130 large aircraft, two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and a total of 83 personnel trained in medical aid, search and rescue and other emergency response activities.
• According to the California Utilities Emergency Association, more than 630 utility responders have been deployed and 55 more responders are in staging areas around California ready to respond.  They sent specialized equipment including massive generators, lowboys, and utility trucks to assist in restoring power to those still without power.
• 15 California fire service personnel have been deployed to Herndon, VA as part of Urban Search and Rescue Incident Support Teams. These personnel are being tasked to several different areas along the northeast.
• The California Emergency Management Agency has assembled special emergency coordination personnel working in the State Operations Center and formed a special transportation task force to help expedite the travel of utility trucks and personnel across state lines.

For more information visit www.calema.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx .