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Maps provide early warning of California fire risk

By WTOP Staff

GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press

ORANGE, Calif. (AP) — Fire-hardened Southern Californians know that when the Santa Ana winds blow, a wildfire probably isn’t very far behind — the only questions are where it will erupt and how bad it will be.

A new online mapping tool rolled out Wednesday by the U.S. Forest Service and San Diego Gas & Electric will help homeowners and emergency responders answer both those questions with a color-coded early warning system indicating which areas have the highest fire risk when the hot, dry wind blows.

The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index includes a six-day outlook and uses 30 years of historical weather data and information about how parched local vegetation currently is to rank danger in four zones from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

“We can see three, four, five days away, ‘Is this going to be one of those garden variety Santa Ana wind events we have or is this really going to be devastating to a particular area?'” said Tom Rolinski, a U.S. Forest Service meteorologist.

When winds are gusting, the maps will be updated with yellow for marginal fire risk, orange for moderate, red for high and purple for extreme. Clicking on an area will yield a full forecast, as well as advisories about how to prepare for a possible conflagration. Users also can find the locations of fires already burning and live readings from weather stations.

Tips for those in the higher risk areas will include charging cell phones, keeping a full gas tank, studying evacuation routes and making contingency plans for pets.

“You live in the mountains and you work down in the city, what happens if a wild land fire breaks out in the middle of the day? How do you get to your pets or your kids in day care?” said John Miller, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

The map is at www.santaanawildfirethreat.com.

Utilities can also use the tool to prepare for strong winds that could knock down power lines; fire agencies can deploy engines in advance; and local agencies will know when to postpone construction work that could start a fire.

The maps are only intended for use when the winds are blowing, Rolinski said.

They showed no fire risk during this week’s record-breaking heat because there were no Santa Ana winds. A fire in Cleveland National Forest forced evacuations while another in the Northern California town of Weed damaged or destroyed 200 homes.

A beta version correctly predicted at least three fires in the past year, including devastating blazes in northern San Diego County during a wind event in May, Rolinski said.

Homeowners who live and work in the most fire-prone areas welcomed the idea.

It could ease concerns of potential homebuyers who are considering a purchase in a fire-prone area by giving the assurance of an early warning, Trisha Barry, a real estate agent, said as she took pictures of a wilderness hiking area on the fringe of northern Orange County suburbs.

The area is tucked between dense housing developments and scrub-covered foothills. Her photos were intended to help promote the home’s proximity to the vast outdoor playground — but the location cuts both ways when it comes to wildfires, she said.

“I was here when there was a fire right on that hill and it was scary,” Barry said, pointing across a dirt parking lot toward the mountains. “I think (the index) is a fantastic benefit to owners. It would be really helpful.”

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Gillian Flaccus can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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