By Angry Old American – August 17, 2023 Picture Credit to Mike Cuthbertson Many of us received an emergency notification Wednesday regarding the closure of Highway 199 due to fire. Thursday morning Pacific Power issued a warning that 20,000 residents may face an extended power outage due to the Smith River Complex fires. All residents of Del Norte County should already be prepared for local emergencies. Follow FEMA guidelines in order to shelter in place or evacuate. Check now online while we still have electricity and internet service at https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210318/how-build-kit-emergencies Fire maps can be accessed online at https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Current/ We also have a very rare hurricane approaching Southern California which is expected to be downgraded to a Tropical Storm. The last time a Hurricane of this magnitude hit Southern California was in 1939, and took the lives of over 40 people. Hurricane Hillary is expected to reach Baja California Saturday and gradually progress northward to Oregon. Hopefully our local fires will be contained before more thunder storms and high winds reach us.