talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--At Least 10 Dead, More Than A Dozen Missing As CA Fire Becomes Deadliest Of Year

GRIDLEY , Calif. ( AP ) — The terrible toll of California ’ s wildfires became more evident as a mother confirmed her 16-year-old son was among those killed when an inferno tore through several hamlets in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada this week .
Jessica Williams , who earlier pleaded for her missing son Josiah to call her , told CBS13 Sacramento that DNA confirmed the teen ’ s death .
“ He was alone , terrified and ran for his life … my son was a good , smart , caring young boy that died alone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going through , ” the TV station reported Friday .
It was not immediately clear if the teen was counted among the 10 wildfire deaths or 16 missing persons reported so far by local authorities .
The North Complex fire near the small city of Oroville that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature , allowing firefighters to make progress , authorities said .
However , the smoke made for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t fly Thursday .
Throughout the state , red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot , dry weather or gusty winds were lifted .
Only a day or two earlier , the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed , locals fled for their lives to a pond , and the town of Berry Creek , population 525 , and other communities were gutted .
On Thursday , Butte County sheriff ’ s Capt .
Derek Bell said seven bodies were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 in two days .
At least four people with critical burns were hospitalized .
Deputies and detectives were searching for human remains as they made their way into devastated areas with a team of anthropologists from Chico State University , Bell said .
Burned-out and overturned cars , downed power lines and the ruins of buildings littered Berry Creek and nearby areas , the Sacramento Bee reported .
One hatchback found on a dirt road had three dead dogs in it , while a pickup truck had the remnants of a guitar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 2,000 homes and other buildings burned in the fire , which began several weeks ago as a lightning-sparked collection of blazes 125 miles ( 201 kilometers ) northeast of San Francisco .
The final toll is expected to be much higher .
Damage assessment teams planned to begin a methodical search of the burned areas on Friday .
Among those unaccounted for were Sandy Butler and her husband , who had called their son to say they planned to escape the flames in a pond .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Jessica Fallon , who has two children with the Butler ’ s grandson and considers them her own grandparents .
“ Everything is replaceable , but not my grandparents ’ lives .
I ’ d rather lose everything than those two .
They kind of held the family together.
” Fallon said she ’ d been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents .
There was no word about them late Thursday night .
The speed and ferocity of the fire astonished observers , even those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that killed some 85 people and devastated the town of Paradise , a few miles away from the current blaze .
Residents jammed the main road out of town on Wednesday amid falling ash and red skies .
Authorities lifted an evacuation warning for Paradise on Thursday but authorities urged people to remain alert .
A crew fighting the fire was overrun by flames Wednesday when winds shifted and its members escaped with only minor injuries after they used the emergency shelters they carry with them .
It was the second time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take the rare last-ditch effort to save their lives .
The blaze is among 29 major wildfires burning from the Oregon border to just north of Mexico .
More than 4,800 square miles ( 12,500 square kilometers ) have burned so far this year — more land than Rhode Island , Delaware and Washington , D.C. , combined — and fall is typically the worst season for fires .
Nineteen people have been killed and at least 4,000 buildings have burned across California .
“ It ’ s a historic season on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historic season .
We just keep setting new precedents , and then we keep destroying them , ” said Sean Norman , a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
Smoke blew into vineyards in wine country north of San Francisco , and rose above scenic Big Sur on the Central Coast and in the foothills and mountains of Los Angeles , San Bernardino and San Diego counties in the southern part of the state .
President Donald Trump spoke with Gov .
Gavin Newsom “ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and reiterate the administration ’ s full support to help those on the front lines of the fires , ” according to White House spokesman Judd Deere .
Neighboring Oregon and Washington also have been beseiged .
More than 1,400 square miles ( 3,625 square kilometers ) have burned this week in Oregon , where hot , windy conditions continued .
Authorities said more than 500,000 people — more than 10 % of the state ’ s population — have been forced to evacuate .
Wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journalists have captured compelling images of wildfires burning in California , due in large part to a decades-old state law that guarantees press virtually unfettered access .
That ’ s not the case everywhere as rules about media access vary by state , and even by government agency .
Melley reported from Los Angeles .
Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

GRIDLEY, Calif. (AP) — The terrible toll of California’s wildfires became more evident as a mother confirmed her 16-year-old son was among those killed when an inferno tore through several hamlets in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada this week.
Jessica Williams, who earlier pleaded for her missing son Josiah to call her, told CBS13 Sacramento that DNA confirmed the teen’s death.
“He was alone, terrified and ran for his life … my son was a good, smart, caring young boy that died alone and it kills me thinking about what he was going through,” the TV station reported Friday.
It was not immediately clear if the teen was counted among the 10 wildfire deaths or 16 missing persons reported so far by local authorities.
The North Complex fire near the small city of Oroville that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature, allowing firefighters to make progress, authorities said.
However, the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters couldn’t fly Thursday.
Throughout the state, red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot, dry weather or gusty winds were lifted.
Only a day or two earlier, the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed, locals fled for their lives to a pond, and the town of Berry Creek, population 525, and other communities were gutted.
On Thursday, Butte County sheriff’s Capt. Derek Bell said seven bodies were discovered, boosting the death toll to 10 in two days. At least four people with critical burns were hospitalized.
Deputies and detectives were searching for human remains as they made their way into devastated areas with a team of anthropologists from Chico State University, Bell said.
Burned-out and overturned cars, downed power lines and the ruins of buildings littered Berry Creek and nearby areas, the Sacramento Bee reported. One hatchback found on a dirt road had three dead dogs in it, while a pickup truck had the remnants of a guitar case and melted CDs in the bed.
More than 2,000 homes and other buildings burned in the fire, which began several weeks ago as a lightning-sparked collection of blazes 125 miles (201 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco. The final toll is expected to be much higher. Damage assessment teams planned to begin a methodical search of the burned areas on Friday.
Among those unaccounted for were Sandy Butler and her husband, who had called their son to say they planned to escape the flames in a pond.
“We’re still hoping and praying for good news,” said Jessica Fallon, who has two children with the Butler’s grandson and considers them her own grandparents. “Everything is replaceable, but not my grandparents’ lives. I’d rather lose everything than those two. They kind of held the family together.”
Fallon said she’d been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents. There was no word about them late Thursday night.
The speed and ferocity of the fire astonished observers, even those who remembered a blaze only two years earlier that killed some 85 people and devastated the town of Paradise, a few miles away from the current blaze.
Residents jammed the main road out of town on Wednesday amid falling ash and red skies. Authorities lifted an evacuation warning for Paradise on Thursday but authorities urged people to remain alert.
A crew fighting the fire was overrun by flames Wednesday when winds shifted and its members escaped with only minor injuries after they used the emergency shelters they carry with them. It was the second time in two days that firefighters in California had to take the rare last-ditch effort to save their lives.
The blaze is among 29 major wildfires burning from the Oregon border to just north of Mexico.
More than 4,800 square miles (12,500 square kilometers) have burned so far this year — more land than Rhode Island, Delaware and Washington, D.C., combined — and fall is typically the worst season for fires. Nineteen people have been killed and at least 4,000 buildings have burned across California.
“It’s a historic season on top of a historic season that replaced a historic season. We just keep setting new precedents, and then we keep destroying them,” said Sean Norman, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Smoke blew into vineyards in wine country north of San Francisco, and rose above scenic Big Sur on the Central Coast and in the foothills and mountains of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties in the southern part of the state.
President Donald Trump spoke with Gov. Gavin Newsom “to express his condolences for the loss of life and reiterate the administration’s full support to help those on the front lines of the fires,” according to White House spokesman Judd Deere.
Neighboring Oregon and Washington also have been beseiged.
More than 1,400 square miles (3,625 square kilometers) have burned this week in Oregon, where hot, windy conditions continued. Authorities said more than 500,000 people — more than 10% of the state’s population — have been forced to evacuate.
Wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles (2,426 kilometers) in Washington.
Journalists have captured compelling images of wildfires burning in California, due in large part to a decades-old state law that guarantees press virtually unfettered access. That’s not the case everywhere as rules about media access vary by state, and even by government agency.
___
Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--Appeals Court Upholds FL ‘Poll Tax’ Law Requiring Ex-Felons Pay Fees For Voting Rights

An appeals court on Friday reversed a district court ’ s decision and upheld a 2019 Florida law requiring that people with past felony convictions pay back all court fines , fees and restitution before regaining their right to vote .
Critics have called the law a “ poll tax ” that discriminates on the basis of race and wealth .
The decision , fewer than two months before Election Day , could prevent hundreds of thousands of people from voting .
“ Because the felons failed to prove a violation of the Constitution , we reverse the judgment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portions of its injunction , ” wrote William H. Pryor Jr. , chief judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals .
The opinion showed the power of Republicans ’ surge of judicial confirmations over the past four years : Aside from Chief Judge Pryor , who was appointed to the Eleventh Circuit by President George W. Bush , all five of the Eleventh Circuit judges siding with the state of Florida were Trump nominees .
Florida has struggled to develop a comprehensive accounting of what , if any , fees each ex-felon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go before Nov. 3 , the bureaucratic hurdle could prove too much for many voters .
“ The big problem with this ruling is Florida doesn ’ t know how much , if any , a former felon owes , ” Michael McDonald , a professor of political science at the University of Florida , observed .
“ A person could with good intent register to vote thinking that they ’ ve paid all their restitution , only to find afterwards that the state locates a stray record somewhere.
” Indeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the felons complain that it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the facts that determine eligibility to vote.
” But , he wrote , “ The Due Process Clause does not require States to provide individual process to help citizens learn the facts necessary to comply with laws of general application.
” In a blistering dissent joined by three of his Eleventh Circuit colleagues , Judge Adalberto Jordan focused on the state of Florida ’ s difficulty in actually telling former felons how much they would have to pay , if anything , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not tell felons—the great majority of whom are indigent—how much they owe , has not completed screening a single felon registrant for unpaid [ legal financial obligations ] , has processed 0 out of 85,000 pending registrations of felons ( that ’ s not a misprint—it really is 0 ) , and has come up with conflicting ( and uncodified ) methods for determining how LFO payments by felons should be credited , ” he said .
The state hasn ’ t been able to tell even the named plaintiffs in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they owe , Jordan noted .
“ So felons who want to satisfy the LFO requirement are unable to do so , and will be prevented from voting in the 2020 elections and far beyond , ” he wrote .
“ Had Florida wanted to create a system to obstruct , impede , and impair the ability of felons to vote under Amendment 4 , it could not have come up with a better one.
” The modern battle over former felons ’ voting rights in Florida began in 2018 , when voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment 4 ) in the state with 65 % support declaring that “ any disqualification from voting arising from a felony conviction shall terminate and voting rights shall be restored upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole or probation.
” The initiative excluded felonies for murder or felony sexual offenses .
The state ’ s Republican-dominated legislature subsequently passed a new law defining felons ’ sentences to include all fines , fees and restitution associated with them .
A district judge knocked down that law in May , calling the fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name.
” But the Eleventh Circuit put that ruling on hold in July , a move later backed by the Supreme Court .
An expert witness for challengers of the law testified this past Spring that nearly four fifths of the 1.4 million former felons who could regain their right to vote under the amendment owed $ 500 or more in court fees .
In her own dissent , Eleventh Circuit Judge Jill Pryor pointed to the possibility — acknowledged by the state — that every single former felon in Florida may face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
“ If this is not a nullification of the will of the electorate , I don ’ t know what would be , ” she wrote .
The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition , a key group in the fight to re-enfranchise former felons , has in recent months focused its efforts on fundraising to pay the fines and fees of potential voters .
After Friday ’ s opinion was published , the group promoted a program to match former felons with pro-bono attorneys and “ scholarship-type ” awards to repay fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , John Legend and LeBron James have pledged financial help to Floridians encumbered by the law .

An appeals court on Friday reversed a district court’s decision and upheld a 2019 Florida law requiring that people with past felony convictions pay back all court fines, fees and restitution before regaining their right to vote. Critics have called the law a “poll tax” that discriminates on the basis of race and wealth.
The decision, fewer than two months before Election Day, could prevent hundreds of thousands of people from voting.
“Because the felons failed to prove a violation of the Constitution, we reverse the judgment of the district court and vacate the challenged portions of its injunction,” wrote William H. Pryor Jr., chief judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
The opinion showed the power of Republicans’ surge of judicial confirmations over the past four years: Aside from Chief Judge Pryor, who was appointed to the Eleventh Circuit by President George W. Bush, all five of the Eleventh Circuit judges siding with the state of Florida were Trump nominees.
Florida has struggled to develop a comprehensive accounting of what, if any, fees each ex-felon needs to pay off. With weeks to go before Nov. 3, the bureaucratic hurdle could prove too much for many voters.
“The big problem with this ruling is Florida doesn’t know how much, if any, a former felon owes,” Michael McDonald, a professor of political science at the University of Florida, observed. “A person could with good intent register to vote thinking that they’ve paid all their restitution, only to find afterwards that the state locates a stray record somewhere.”
Indeed, Pryor’s opinion acknowledged that “the felons complain that it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the facts that determine eligibility to vote.” But, he wrote, “The Due Process Clause does not require States to provide individual process to help citizens learn the facts necessary to comply with laws of general application.”
In a blistering dissent joined by three of his Eleventh Circuit colleagues, Judge Adalberto Jordan focused on the state of Florida’s difficulty in actually telling former felons how much they would have to pay, if anything, to regain their voting rights.
“Florida cannot tell felons—the great majority of whom are indigent—how much they owe, has not completed screening a single felon registrant for unpaid [legal financial obligations], has processed 0 out of 85,000 pending registrations of felons (that’s not a misprint—it really is 0), and has come up with conflicting (and uncodified) methods for determining how LFO payments by felons should be credited,” he said.
The state hasn’t been able to tell even the named plaintiffs in the case before the Eleventh Circuit how much they owe, Jordan noted.
“So felons who want to satisfy the LFO requirement are unable to do so, and will be prevented from voting in the 2020 elections and far beyond,” he wrote. “Had Florida wanted to create a system to obstruct, impede, and impair the ability of felons to vote under Amendment 4, it could not have come up with a better one.”
The modern battle over former felons’ voting rights in Florida began in 2018, when voters passed a ballot initiative (known as Amendment 4) in the state with 65% support declaring that “any disqualification from voting arising from a felony conviction shall terminate and voting rights shall be restored upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole or probation.” The initiative excluded felonies for murder or felony sexual offenses.
The state’s Republican-dominated legislature subsequently passed a new law defining felons’ sentences to include all fines, fees and restitution associated with them. A district judge knocked down that law in May, calling the fees “taxes in substance though not in name.” But the Eleventh Circuit put that ruling on hold in July, a move later backed by the Supreme Court.
An expert witness for challengers of the law testified this past Spring that nearly four fifths of the 1.4 million former felons who could regain their right to vote under the amendment owed $500 or more in court fees.
In her own dissent, Eleventh Circuit Judge Jill Pryor pointed to the possibility — acknowledged by the state — that every single former felon in Florida may face unconquerable obstacles to regaining their right to vote.
“If this is not a nullification of the will of the electorate, I don’t know what would be,” she wrote.
The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a key group in the fight to re-enfranchise former felons, has in recent months focused its efforts on fundraising to pay the fines and fees of potential voters. After Friday’s opinion was published, the group promoted a program to match former felons with pro-bono attorneys and “scholarship-type” awards to repay fines and fees. Celebrities including Michael Jordan, John Legend and LeBron James have pledged financial help to Floridians encumbered by the law.
Read the Eleventh Circuit opinion below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-12--Biden Calls Out Trump For Denying Climate Change Amid Wildfires: ‘The Science Is Clear’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden rebuked President Donald Trump ’ s dismissal of climate change Saturday , criticizing the White House for its failure to take bold action to battle wildfires that continue to tear across Western states .
“ The science is clear , and deadly signs like these are unmistakable — climate change poses an imminent , existential threat to our way of life , ” Biden said in a statement .
“ President Trump can try to deny that reality , but the facts are undeniable .
We absolutely must act now to avoid a future defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one American families are enduring across the West today.
” The White House on Saturday announced President Donald Trump will soon visit California , after Trump thanked firefighters and first responders in tweets on Friday for battling the deadly wildfires that have ravaged the West .
The President will visit McClellan Park , California , for a briefing with local and federal fire and emergency officials , the White House confirmed to Politico .
Trump ’ s delayed public acknowledgment of the crisis comes after weeks of allowing the fires which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes and vast swaths of land .
In August , Trump had announced the approval of a disaster declaration for California during a news conference and said at that time that the federal government had deployed over 26,000 first responders and personnel to battle the fires and provide assistance as families continued to lose their homes and livelihoods in the flames .
But in recent weeks , while Trump has taken to Twitter to put out other fires that could jeopardize his reelection — particularly related to revelations that he had intentionally misled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has not offered much comment about the flames engulfing millions of acres in the West .
In the tweet Friday , the President said that had approved funds to support the brave work of those fighting wildfires on the frontlines , adding : “ We are with them all the way !
” Prior to the Friday tweet , which also thanked firefighters and first responders , Trump has remained relatively quiet about publicly expressing condolences on the platform or otherwise providing leadership to victims of the fires .
His delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of offering little reassurance or leadership amid natural disasters , including during a series of wildfires that tore through parts of California in 2018 .
Miles Taylor , a former Trump DHS official who has publicly supported the Biden-Harris ticket in August accused the President of previously trying to cut emergency funding to California amid past wildfires because he believed many of the voters there had not supported his election in 2016 .
The White House said roughly two dozen fire management grants have been approved since mid-August for Colorado , Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wyoming .
Trump approved an emergency declaration for Oregon on Thursday .
“ The President continues to support those who are battling raging wildfires in a locally-executed , state-managed , and federally-supported emergency response , ” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement Saturday .
Deere contested in the statement that the White House , along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency , have remained in “ constant contact ” with state and local officials throughout the response to the fires .
A historic figure of more than 3.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes .
Dozens of people are still unaccounted for amid the flames and smoke .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden rebuked President Donald Trump’s dismissal of climate change Saturday, criticizing the White House for its failure to take bold action to battle wildfires that continue to tear across Western states.
“The science is clear, and deadly signs like these are unmistakable — climate change poses an imminent, existential threat to our way of life,” Biden said in a statement.
“President Trump can try to deny that reality, but the facts are undeniable. We absolutely must act now to avoid a future defined by an unending barrage of tragedies like the one American families are enduring across the West today.”
The White House on Saturday announced President Donald Trump will soon visit California, after Trump thanked firefighters and first responders in tweets on Friday for battling the deadly wildfires that have ravaged the West. The President will visit McClellan Park, California, for a briefing with local and federal fire and emergency officials, the White House confirmed to Politico.
The long-awaited move comes as the fires have raged for weeks —killing more than 27 people and charring homes and vast swaths of land.
In August, Trump approved disaster declaration for California and said during a news conference that the federal government had deployed over 26,000 first responders and personnel.
But in recent weeks, while Trump has taken to Twitter to put out other fires that could jeopardize his reelection — particularly related to revelations that he had intentionally misled the American public about the COVID-19 pandemic — he has not offered much comment about the flames engulfing millions of acres in the West.
In the tweet Friday, the President said that he had approved funds to support the brave work of those fighting wildfires on the frontlines, adding: “We are with them all the way!”
Prior to the Friday tweet, which did not acknowledge the direct suffering residents who have been hard hit by the fires, Trump had remained relatively quiet about publicly expressing condolences or otherwise providing leadership to victims of the fires.
His delayed acknowledgment of the wildfires, fits with his history of offering little reassurance or leadership amid natural disasters, including during a series of wildfires that tore through parts of California in 2018.
Miles Taylor, a former Trump DHS official who has publicly supported the Biden-Harris ticket, noted in a video clip for Republican Voters Against Trump, that amid wildfires in recent years, the President had pushed to cut emergency funding to California. During an ABC interview last month, Taylor said that the President justified the move privately because he believed many of the state’s voters had not supported his election in 2016.
The White House said roughly two dozen fire management grants have been approved since mid-August for Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Trump approved an emergency declaration for Oregon on Thursday.
“The President continues to support those who are battling raging wildfires in a locally-executed, state-managed, and federally-supported emergency response,” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement Saturday.
Deere contended in the statement that the White House, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have remained in “constant contact” with state and local officials throughout the response to the fires.
A historic figure of more than 3.1 million acres have burned in California and thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes. Dozens of people are still unaccounted for amid the flames and smoke.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-12--Trump Tweet Flagged For Again Encouraging Voters To Act Illegally By Double-Voting

President Donald Trump is again being flagged on Twitter for a post spreading disinformation related to the November election after repeating a call to North Carolina voters to potentially cast a second ballot in the November elections a move that is illegal .
“ NORTH CAROLINA : To make sure your Ballot COUNTS , sign & send it in EARLY .
When Polls open , go to your Polling Place to see if it was COUNTED .
IF NOT , VOTE !
Your signed Ballot will not count because your vote has been posted .
Don ’ t let them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” Trump wrote early Saturday .
Shortly after , Twitter flagged the tweet for violating its policies “ specifically for encouraging people to potentially vote twice.
” The flagged tweet comes as Trump has repeatedly pushed his supporters to break election laws , while simultaneously accusing Democrats of a “ rigged ” election and massive voter fraud .
A statement on Twitter ’ s Safety page said that the measure was taken to “ protect people ” against the President ’ s effort to advise people to “ take actions which could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or result in the invalidation of their votes.
” This is not the first time President Trump has told his followers to vote twice .
He offered the suggestion at an event in North Carolina that was hurriedly followed by a statement from the North Carolina State Board of Elections urging voters not to heed the President ’ s advice since it it illegal to vote twice , and is classified as a felony in at least 28 states , including North Carolina .
The President made a similar suggestion later that week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The tweet is the latest in the President ’ s effort to undermine the legitimacy of the election , suppress votes and capitalize on fear surrounding the coronavirus pandemic as many voters seek to cast their votes by mail during the ongoing health crisis that Trump has fumbled to contain .
Social media companies have grown wary as the election draws near regarding concerns about a premature victory being virally spread for either of the candidates across the likes of Facebook or Twitter before a true winner has officially been declared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ PR stunt , Facebook recently announced that it would not allow new political advertising in the week leading up to the election .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also said that he would work with election officials by labeling any false results reported before an official winner had been determined .
Twitter has said Trump ’ s tweet will remain posted but that engagements will be limited , allowing users to quote-tweet it but not permitting them to like , reply to or retweet the post .

President Donald Trump is again being flagged on Twitter for a post spreading disinformation related to the November election after repeating a call to North Carolina voters to potentially cast a second ballot in the November elections a move that is illegal.
“NORTH CAROLINA: To make sure your Ballot COUNTS, sign & send it in EARLY. When Polls open, go to your Polling Place to see if it was COUNTED. IF NOT, VOTE! Your signed Ballot will not count because your vote has been posted. Don’t let them illegally take your vote away from you!” Trump wrote early Saturday.
Shortly after, Twitter flagged the tweet for violating its policies “specifically for encouraging people to potentially vote twice.”
The flagged tweet comes as Trump has repeatedly pushed his supporters to break election laws, while simultaneously accusing Democrats of a “rigged” election and massive voter fraud.
A statement on Twitter’s Safety page said that the measure was taken to “protect people” against the President’s effort to advise people to “take actions which could be illegal in the context of voting or result in the invalidation of their votes.”
This is not the first time President Trump has told his followers to vote twice. He offered the suggestion at an event in North Carolina that was hurriedly followed by a statement from the North Carolina State Board of Elections urging voters not to heed the President’s advice since it it illegal to vote twice, and is classified as a felony in at least 28 states, including North Carolina.
The President made a similar suggestion later that week, during a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
The tweet is the latest in the President’s effort to undermine the legitimacy of the election, suppress votes and capitalize on fear surrounding the coronavirus pandemic as many voters seek to cast their votes by mail during the ongoing health crisis that Trump has fumbled to contain.
Social media companies have grown wary as the election draws near regarding concerns about a premature victory being virally spread for either of the candidates across the likes of Facebook or Twitter before a true winner has officially been declared.
In what appeared to amount to a PR stunt, Facebook recently announced that it would not allow new political advertising in the week leading up to the election. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also said that he would work with election officials by labeling any false results reported before an official winner had been determined.
Twitter has said Trump’s tweet will remain posted but that engagements will be limited, allowing users to quote-tweet it but not permitting them to like, reply to or retweet the post.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-12--Pence Will No Longer Attend Fundraiser Hosted By QAnon Supporters

Vice President Mike Pence has said he will no longer attend a Trump campaign fundraiser in Montana hosted by QAnon supporters .
President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign told The Associated Press on Saturday that Pence ’ s schedule had been changed , but the campaign did not provide a reason or say if the fundraiser would be rescheduled .
The change follows an earlier report that fundraiser hosts Cayrn and Michael Borland in Bozeman , Montana , openly backed QAnon — sharing memes and retweeting posts from QAnon accounts .
The conspiracy theory which has been flagged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that President Donald Trump is fending off a “ deep state ” bureaucracy and sex trafficking ring run by pedophiles .
Three Republicans seeking election in Montana were also scheduled to attend the fundraiser , including Sen. Steve Daines Rep. Greg Gianforte , and House candidate Matt Rosendale .
Campaign spokesperson for Daines , Julia Doyle , told AP the senator does not know the Borlands nor “ does he know what QAnon even is.
” The Borlands have been big Trump donors , pouring over $ 220,000 into the President ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made in Caryn Borland ’ s name .
The couple were also guests at the Republican National Convention last month .
Late last month , Pence told CBS that he dismissed the conspiracy theory .
“ I don ’ t know anything about QAnon , and I dismiss it out of hand , ” he said at the time .

Vice President Mike Pence has said he will no longer attend a Trump campaign fundraiser in Montana hosted by QAnon supporters.
President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign told The Associated Press on Saturday that Pence’s schedule had been changed, but the campaign did not provide a reason or say if the fundraiser would be rescheduled.
The change follows an earlier report that fundraiser hosts Cayrn and Michael Borland in Bozeman, Montana, openly backed QAnon — sharing memes and retweeting posts from QAnon accounts.
The conspiracy theory which has been flagged by the FBI as a domestic terror threat claims that President Donald Trump is fending off a “deep state” bureaucracy and sex trafficking ring run by pedophiles.
Three Republicans seeking election in Montana were also scheduled to attend the fundraiser, including Sen. Steve Daines Rep. Greg Gianforte, and House candidate Matt Rosendale.
Campaign spokesperson for Daines, Julia Doyle, told AP the senator does not know the Borlands nor “does he know what QAnon even is.”
The Borlands have been big Trump donors, pouring over $220,000 into the President’s re-election bid, most of it made in Caryn Borland’s name. The couple were also guests at the Republican National Convention last month.
Late last month, Pence told CBS that he dismissed the conspiracy theory.
“I don’t know anything about QAnon, and I dismiss it out of hand,” he said at the time.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-12--REPORT: HHS Officials Messed With CDC Reporting To Align It With Trump’s Rosy COVID Message

Communications aides for the Health Department have sought to interfere and make changes to the CDC ’ s weekly scientific reports on the coronavirus pandemic that are used to communicate risks and new findings about the novel virus to the public and health professionals .
Politico reports that officials have called the move an intimidation tactic as politically-appointed aides make efforts to dilute the CDC ’ s reporting to health professionals .
According to three sources and emails obtained by Politico , communications aides to CDC Director Robert Redfield and other senior officials complained that the agency ’ s reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rosy rhetoric about the pandemic .
While fighting back in some instances , CDC officials have increasingly relented to political officials who have demanded that they be able to review the reports at at times compromise the wording , three people familiar with the exchanges told Politico .
Pressure on the CDC to align the its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports ( MMWR ) reports with Trump ’ s statements appear to follow the installation of HHS spokesperson Michael Caputo in April .
Caputo is a former Trump campaign offocial with no scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC ’ s reporting to reflect Trump ’ s claims that the pandemic is subsiding and the effects of the virus have been trumped up by his opposition .
In the past , MMWR reports which function to inform health professionals and the general public about COVID-19 , were published without political interference .
But Caputo ’ s team has recently made efforts to revise previously-published reports that they say wrongly magnified the risks of coronavirus , health department officials told Politico .
Caputo ’ s team also delayed for about one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors prescribed hydroxychloroquine , Politico found .
In August , a Caputo aide tore into CDC scientists in a widely-circulated email within the department saying that the scientists were deliberately using the reports to “ hurt the President.
” “ CDC to me appears to be writing hit pieces on the administration , ” Paul Alexander a senior adviser to Caputo wrote , calling on CDC director Robert Redfield to adjust two already published reports that Alexander claimed overstated the risks of coronavirus to children and undermined Trump ’ s plan to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding an “ immediate stop ” to all future MMWR reports until the agency amended its publication process saying the reports should first be reviewed in their entirety by “ someone outside of CDC like myself.
” “ We can not allow the reporting to go on as it has been , for it is outrageous.
” Alexander told Redfield and other officials , calling it “ lunacy.
” Per Politico , Caputo also attested that HHS was reviewing the CDC ’ s reports to undercut “ deep state motives.
” “ Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , science-based data drives policy through this pandemic—not ulterior deep state motives in the bowels of CDC , ” Caputo said .

Communications aides for the Health Department have sought to interfere and make changes to the CDC’s weekly scientific reports on the coronavirus pandemic that are used to communicate risks and new findings about the novel virus to the public and health professionals.
Politico reports that officials have called the move an intimidation tactic as politically-appointed aides make efforts to dilute the CDC’s reporting to health professionals.
According to three sources and emails obtained by Politico, communications aides to CDC Director Robert Redfield and other senior officials complained that the agency’s reports would undercut President Donald Trump’s rosy rhetoric about the pandemic.
While fighting back in some instances, CDC officials have increasingly relented to political officials who have demanded that they be able to review the reports at at times compromise the wording, three people familiar with the exchanges told Politico.
Pressure on the CDC to align the its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR) reports with Trump’s statements appear to follow the installation of HHS spokesperson Michael Caputo in April. Caputo is a former Trump campaign offocial with no scientific background — yet he has pushed for the CDC’s reporting to reflect Trump’s claims that the pandemic is subsiding and the effects of the virus have been trumped up by his opposition.
In the past, MMWR reports which function to inform health professionals and the general public about COVID-19, were published without political interference. But Caputo’s team has recently made efforts to revise previously-published reports that they say wrongly magnified the risks of coronavirus, health department officials told Politico.
Caputo’s team also delayed for about one month, a report that discussed how doctors prescribed hydroxychloroquine, Politico found.
In August, a Caputo aide tore into CDC scientists in a widely-circulated email within the department saying that the scientists were deliberately using the reports to “hurt the President.”
“CDC to me appears to be writing hit pieces on the administration,” Paul Alexander a senior adviser to Caputo wrote, calling on CDC director Robert Redfield to adjust two already published reports that Alexander claimed overstated the risks of coronavirus to children and undermined Trump’s plan to reopen schools.
Alexander also called on Redfield demanding an “immediate stop” to all future MMWR reports until the agency amended its publication process saying the reports should first be reviewed in their entirety by “someone outside of CDC like myself.”
“We cannot allow the reporting to go on as it has been, for it is outrageous.” Alexander told Redfield and other officials, calling it “lunacy.”
Per Politico, Caputo also attested that HHS was reviewing the CDC’s reports to undercut “deep state motives.”
“Our intention is to make sure that evidence, science-based data drives policy through this pandemic—not ulterior deep state motives in the bowels of CDC,” Caputo said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-12--CO Sec Of State Says USPS Is Sending ‘Misinformation’ To Voters

Colorado secretary of state Jena Griswold ( D ) took aim at the U.S .
Postal Service on Twitter late Friday after she said the mail service had sent out a misleading informational postcard to voters containing an inaccurate checklist for mail-in voting that could undermine the election and “ suppress votes.
” The postcard , sent to homes across the country , contained a checklist intended to help those voting by mail prepare for the upcoming November elections which are now less than eight weeks away .
Among its listed priorities is for eligible voters to “ request a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states where elections officials send out ballots automatically to every registered voter .
The USPS postcard also incorrectly advises voters to “ mail your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day , ” even though voters in some states — including Colorado– are told by local election officials to mail them back sooner .
“ Why is the USPS telling voters a different timeline ?
” Griswold tweeted .
“ Confusing voters about mail ballots in the middle of a pandemic is unacceptable , ” Griswold tweeted .
“ It can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
I will do everything in my power to stop @ USPS from sending misinformation to voters.
” Griswold said that secretaries of state had asked postmaster general Louis DeJoy to review a draft before election information was sent out to voters to make sure it was accurate , adding that the Trump-allied , former GOP mega-donor refused .
“ Now millions of postcards with misinformation are printed & being mailed to voters , ” Griswold wrote .
She added that officials in her state had asked the USPS not to send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused.
” According to Griswold , what may have begun as a “ well-intentioned effort ” by the mail service has been marred by “ refusal ” from postal officials to heed the recommendations of election experts .
She contended that a failure to listen to local experts combined with the recent postal delays in some parts of the country is “ beyond suspect.
” Griswold previously accused President Donald Trump in August of making efforts to suppress voting , saying that he couldn ’ t be trusted given his history of inviting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Unfortunately , the President is doing everything he can to undermine confidence and take away the people ’ s right to vote , ” she said in an MSNBC interview .
USPS spokesperson David Rupert issued a statement Friday obtained by a local NBC-affiliated station , KUSA , addressing Griswold ’ s concerns , saying that the USPS had started a multi-pronged public information effort in August that will continue through Election Day .
The “ nonpartisan ” campaign was aimed at educating the public about the mail service ’ s role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The non-partisan campaign neither encourages nor discourages mail-in voting ; rather , it is designed to reach and inform all voters about the importance of planning ahead if they plan to vote by mail , Rupert said .

Colorado secretary of state Jena Griswold (D) took aim at the U.S. Postal Service on Twitter late Friday after she said the mail service had sent out a misleading informational postcard to voters containing an inaccurate checklist for mail-in voting that could undermine the election and “suppress votes.”
I just found out the @USPS is sending this postcard to every household and PO Box in the nation. For states like Colorado where we send ballots to all voters, the information is not just confusing, it’s WRONG. (Thread) pic.twitter.com/RoTTeJRJVl — Jena Griswold (@JenaGriswold) September 12, 2020
The postcard, sent to homes across the country, contained a checklist intended to help those voting by mail prepare for the upcoming November elections which are now less than eight weeks away.
Among its listed priorities is for eligible voters to “request a ballot,” which is unnecessary in some states where elections officials send out ballots automatically to every registered voter.
The USPS postcard also incorrectly advises voters to “mail your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day,” even though voters in some states — including Colorado– are told by local election officials to mail them back sooner.
“Why is the USPS telling voters a different timeline?” Griswold tweeted.
“Confusing voters about mail ballots in the middle of a pandemic is unacceptable,” Griswold tweeted. “It can undermine confidence in the election & suppress votes. I will do everything in my power to stop @USPS from sending misinformation to voters.”
Griswold said that secretaries of state had asked postmaster general Louis DeJoy to review a draft before election information was sent out to voters to make sure it was accurate, adding that the Trump-allied, former GOP mega-donor refused. “Now millions of postcards with misinformation are printed & being mailed to voters,” Griswold wrote. She added that officials in her state had asked the USPS not to send the postcards but “they flat out refused.”
According to Griswold, what may have begun as a “well-intentioned effort” by the mail service has been marred by “refusal” from postal officials to heed the recommendations of election experts.
She contended that a failure to listen to local experts combined with the recent postal delays in some parts of the country is “beyond suspect.”
Griswold previously accused President Donald Trump in August of making efforts to suppress voting, saying that he couldn’t be trusted given his history of inviting “foreign interference into our elections.”
“Unfortunately, the President is doing everything he can to undermine confidence and take away the people’s right to vote,” she said in an MSNBC interview.
USPS spokesperson David Rupert issued a statement Friday obtained by a local NBC-affiliated station, KUSA, addressing Griswold’s concerns, saying that the USPS had started a multi-pronged public information effort in August that will continue through Election Day. The “nonpartisan” campaign was aimed at educating the public about the mail service’s role in the mail-in ballot process.
“The non-partisan campaign neither encourages nor discourages mail-in voting; rather, it is designed to reach and inform all voters about the importance of planning ahead if they plan to vote by mail, Rupert said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-12--Can Antarctica Remain Free From COVID-19?

JOHANNESBURG ( AP ) — At this very moment a vast world exists that ’ s free of the coronavirus , where people can mingle without masks and watch the pandemic unfold from thousands of miles away .
That world is Antarctica , the only continent without COVID-19 .
Now , as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in weeks or months , a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don ’ t bring the virus with them .
From the U.K. ’ s Rothera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curls toward the tip of South America , field guide Rob Taylor described what it ’ s like in “ our safe little bubble.
” In pre-coronavirus days , long-term isolation , self-reliance and psychological strain were the norm for Antarctic teams while the rest of the world saw their life as fascinatingly extreme .
“ In general , the freedoms afforded to us are more extensive than those in the U.K. at the height of lockdown , ” said Taylor , who arrived in October and has missed the pandemic entirely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , run , use the gym , all within reason.
” Like teams across Antarctica , including at the South Pole , Taylor and his 26 colleagues must be proficient in all sorts of tasks in a remote , communal environment with little room for error .
They take turns cooking , make weather observations and “ do a lot of sewing , ” he said .
Good internet connections mean they ’ ve watched closely as the pandemic circled the rest of the planet .
Until this year , conversations with incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now the advice goes both ways .
“ I ’ m sure there ’ s a lot they can tell us that will help us adapt to the new way of things , ” Taylor said .
“ We haven ’ t had any practice at social distancing yet !
” At New Zealand ’ s Scott Base , rounds of mini-golf and a filmmaking competition with other Antarctic bases have been highlights of the Southern Hemisphere ’ s winter , which ended for the Scott team when they spotted the sun last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
“ I think there ’ s a little bit of dissociation , ” Rory O ’ Connor , a doctor and the team ’ s winter leader , said of watching the pandemic from afar .
“ You acknowledge it cerebrally , but I don ’ t think we have fully factored in the emotional turmoil it must be causing.
” His family in the U.K. still wouldn ’ t trade places with him .
“ They can ’ t understand why I came down here , ” he joked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a small group of people .
Where ’ s the joy in that ?
” O ’ Connor said they will be able to test for the virus once colleagues start arriving as soon as Monday , weeks late because a huge storm dumped 20-feet ( 6-meter ) snowdrifts .
Any virus case will spark a “ red response level , ” he said , with activities stripped down to providing heating , water , power and food .
While COVID-19 has rattled some diplomatic ties , the 30 countries that make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antarctic Programs teamed up early to keep the virus out .
Officials cite unique teamwork among the United States , China , Russia and others that elsewhere might engage in diplomatic sniping .
As a frightened world was locking down in March , the Antarctic programs agreed the pandemic could become a major disaster .
With the world ’ s strongest winds and coldest temperatures , the continent roughly the size of the United States and Mexico is already dangerous for workers at 40 year-round bases .
“ A highly infectious novel virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme and austere environment of Antarctica with limited sophistication of medical care and public health responses is High Risk with potential catastrophic consequences , ” according to a COMNAP document seen by The Associated Press .
Since Antarctica can only be reached through a few air gateways or via ship , “ the attempt to prevent the virus from reaching the continent should be undertaken IMMEDIATELY , ” it said .
No more contact with tourists , COMNAP warned .
“ No cruise ships should be disembarking.
” And for Antarctic teams located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social events between stations/facilities should be ceased.
” Antarctic workers have long been trained in hand-washing and “ sneeze etiquette , ” but COMNAP slipped in that reminder , adding , “ Don ’ t touch your face.
” In those hurried weeks of final flights , the U.S. “ thankfully ” augmented medical and other supplies for winter and beyond it , said Stephanie Short , head of logistics for the U.S. Antarctic program .
“ We re-planned an entire research season in a matter of weeks , facing the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my 25-year government career , ” she said .
Antarctic bases soon slipped into months of isolation known as winter .
Now , with the glimmer of spring , the next big test has begun .
Everyone is sending fewer people to the ice for the summer , COMNAP executive secretary Michelle Finnemore said .
In the gateway city of Christchurch , New Zealand , Operation Deep Freeze is preparing to airlift some 120 people to the largest U.S. station , McMurdo .
To limit contact between Antarctic workers and flight crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility mounted on a pallet .
The Americans ’ bubble began before leaving the U.S. in early August and continues until they reach the ice .
They ’ ve been isolated in hotel rooms well beyond New Zealand ’ s 14-day quarantine .
Bad weather has delayed their departure for weeks .
It ’ s now planned for Monday .
“ We ’ re trying to do a really good job keeping up their spirits , ” said Anthony German , the U.S. Antarctic program ’ s chief liaison there .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer staff .
Research will be affected , though investment in robotics and instrumentation that can transmit data from the field will help greatly , said Alexandra Isern , head of Antarctic sciences for the U.S. program with the National Science Foundation .
The COVID-19 disruptions are causing some sadness , she said .
“ In some cases , we ’ re going to have to have contingents digging instruments out of the snow to make sure we can still find it.
” Like other countries , New Zealand will prioritize long-term data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which measure climate , ozone levels , seismic activity and more , said Sarah Williamson , chief executive of Antarctica New Zealand .
It ’ s sending 100 people to the ice instead of 350 , she said .
Some programs are deferring Antarctic operations to next year or even 2022 , said Nish Devanunthan , South Africa ’ s director of Antarctic support .
“ I think the biggest concern for every country is to be the one that is fingered for bringing the virus , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend to the gateway cities — Cape Town , Christchurch , Hobart in Australia , Punta Arenas in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina .
Each has quarantine and testing protocols for workers boarding planes or ships heading south .
Antarctica always has its challenges , Devanunthan said , but when it comes to COVID-19 and the international community as a whole , “ I would say this is on the top of the list.
” A few weeks ago at McMurdo Station , workers carried out a drill to simulate what the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask-wearing and social distancing .
“ It will be difficult not to run up and hug friends ” once they arrive , station manager Erin Heard said .
He and the others will start wearing masks two days before the newcomers fly in , he said , “ to help us get muscle memory.
” For the masks , the team plundered McMurdo ’ s craft room , stocked with fabric , and found designs online .
As colleagues arrive , Heard will leave Antarctica .
He once might have planned to thaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s weighing the new normal .
“ Do I ask a friend to pick me up ?
I don ’ t know if I ’ m comfortable doing that , ” he said as he imagined stepping off the plane .
“ It will be super weird , to be honest , to be coming from what feels like another planet .
”

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At this very moment a vast world exists that’s free of the coronavirus, where people can mingle without masks and watch the pandemic unfold from thousands of miles away.
That world is Antarctica, the only continent without COVID-19. Now, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in weeks or months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them.
From the U.K.’s Rothera Research Station off the Antarctic peninsula that curls toward the tip of South America, field guide Rob Taylor described what it’s like in “our safe little bubble.”
In pre-coronavirus days, long-term isolation, self-reliance and psychological strain were the norm for Antarctic teams while the rest of the world saw their life as fascinatingly extreme.
How times have changed.
“In general, the freedoms afforded to us are more extensive than those in the U.K. at the height of lockdown,” said Taylor, who arrived in October and has missed the pandemic entirely. “We can ski, socialize normally, run, use the gym, all within reason.”
Like teams across Antarctica, including at the South Pole, Taylor and his 26 colleagues must be proficient in all sorts of tasks in a remote, communal environment with little room for error. They take turns cooking, make weather observations and “do a lot of sewing,” he said.
Good internet connections mean they’ve watched closely as the pandemic circled the rest of the planet. Until this year, conversations with incoming colleagues focused on preparing the newcomers. Now the advice goes both ways.
“I’m sure there’s a lot they can tell us that will help us adapt to the new way of things,” Taylor said. “We haven’t had any practice at social distancing yet!”
At New Zealand’s Scott Base, rounds of mini-golf and a filmmaking competition with other Antarctic bases have been highlights of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, which ended for the Scott team when they spotted the sun last Friday. It had been away since April.
“I think there’s a little bit of dissociation,” Rory O’Connor, a doctor and the team’s winter leader, said of watching the pandemic from afar. “You acknowledge it cerebrally, but I don’t think we have fully factored in the emotional turmoil it must be causing.”
His family in the U.K. still wouldn’t trade places with him. “They can’t understand why I came down here,” he joked. “Months of darkness. Stuck inside with a small group of people. Where’s the joy in that?”
O’Connor said they will be able to test for the virus once colleagues start arriving as soon as Monday, weeks late because a huge storm dumped 20-feet (6-meter) snowdrifts. Any virus case will spark a “red response level,” he said, with activities stripped down to providing heating, water, power and food.
While COVID-19 has rattled some diplomatic ties, the 30 countries that make up the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs teamed up early to keep the virus out. Officials cite unique teamwork among the United States, China, Russia and others that elsewhere might engage in diplomatic sniping.
As a frightened world was locking down in March, the Antarctic programs agreed the pandemic could become a major disaster. With the world’s strongest winds and coldest temperatures, the continent roughly the size of the United States and Mexico is already dangerous for workers at 40 year-round bases.
“A highly infectious novel virus with significant mortality and morbidity in the extreme and austere environment of Antarctica with limited sophistication of medical care and public health responses is High Risk with potential catastrophic consequences,” according to a COMNAP document seen by The Associated Press.
Since Antarctica can only be reached through a few air gateways or via ship, “the attempt to prevent the virus from reaching the continent should be undertaken IMMEDIATELY,” it said.
No more contact with tourists, COMNAP warned. “No cruise ships should be disembarking.” And for Antarctic teams located near each other, “mutual visits and social events between stations/facilities should be ceased.”
Antarctic workers have long been trained in hand-washing and “sneeze etiquette,” but COMNAP slipped in that reminder, adding, “Don’t touch your face.”
In those hurried weeks of final flights, the U.S. “thankfully” augmented medical and other supplies for winter and beyond it, said Stephanie Short, head of logistics for the U.S. Antarctic program.
“We re-planned an entire research season in a matter of weeks, facing the highest level of uncertainty I’ve seen in my 25-year government career,” she said.
Antarctic bases soon slipped into months of isolation known as winter. Now, with the glimmer of spring, the next big test has begun.
Everyone is sending fewer people to the ice for the summer, COMNAP executive secretary Michelle Finnemore said.
In the gateway city of Christchurch, New Zealand, Operation Deep Freeze is preparing to airlift some 120 people to the largest U.S. station, McMurdo. To limit contact between Antarctic workers and flight crew, the plane contains a separate toilet facility mounted on a pallet.
The Americans’ bubble began before leaving the U.S. in early August and continues until they reach the ice. They’ve been isolated in hotel rooms well beyond New Zealand’s 14-day quarantine. Bad weather has delayed their departure for weeks. It’s now planned for Monday.
“We’re trying to do a really good job keeping up their spirits,” said Anthony German, the U.S. Antarctic program’s chief liaison there.
The U.S. is sending a third of its usual summer staff. Research will be affected, though investment in robotics and instrumentation that can transmit data from the field will help greatly, said Alexandra Isern, head of Antarctic sciences for the U.S. program with the National Science Foundation.
The COVID-19 disruptions are causing some sadness, she said. “In some cases, we’re going to have to have contingents digging instruments out of the snow to make sure we can still find it.”
Like other countries, New Zealand will prioritize long-term data sets, some begun in the 1950s, which measure climate, ozone levels, seismic activity and more, said Sarah Williamson, chief executive of Antarctica New Zealand. It’s sending 100 people to the ice instead of 350, she said.
Some programs are deferring Antarctic operations to next year or even 2022, said Nish Devanunthan, South Africa’s director of Antarctic support.
“I think the biggest concern for every country is to be the one that is fingered for bringing the virus,” he said. “Everyone is safeguarding against that.”
Precautions extend to the gateway cities — Cape Town, Christchurch, Hobart in Australia, Punta Arenas in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina. Each has quarantine and testing protocols for workers boarding planes or ships heading south.
Antarctica always has its challenges, Devanunthan said, but when it comes to COVID-19 and the international community as a whole, “I would say this is on the top of the list.”
A few weeks ago at McMurdo Station, workers carried out a drill to simulate what the rest of the world knows too well: mask-wearing and social distancing. “It will be difficult not to run up and hug friends” once they arrive, station manager Erin Heard said.
He and the others will start wearing masks two days before the newcomers fly in, he said, “to help us get muscle memory.” For the masks, the team plundered McMurdo’s craft room, stocked with fabric, and found designs online.
As colleagues arrive, Heard will leave Antarctica. He once might have planned to thaw out on a beach. Now he’s weighing the new normal. “Do I ask a friend to pick me up? I don’t know if I’m comfortable doing that,” he said as he imagined stepping off the plane.
“It will be super weird, to be honest, to be coming from what feels like another planet.”
___
Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-13--‘Fog Of War’: Trump Camp Rallies To His Defense After Intentional COVID Downplay Revelation

Trump campaign officials on Sunday defended the President ’ s intentional public downplaying of COVID-19 early this year , which journalist Bob Woodward revealed in his forthcoming book .
Woodward , who spoke with Trump 18 times from December to July for his book , wrote that the President privately expressed fear over COVID-19 to him after being warned by national security officials in late January that COVID-19 would be the worst pandemic in a century .
Following reports on Woodward ’ s book and his reporting on Trump ’ s private COVID-19 concerns — which stood in stark contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus — the President admitted that he intentionally downplayed the severity of COVID-19 early this year because he is “ a cheerleader for this country.
” On Sunday , White House trade adviser Peter Navarro clashed with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper when asked why Trump misled the public on COVID-19 , citing a Feb. 7 interview that the President had with Woodward when he stated his private concerns on COVID-19 .
After Tapper called Navarro out for dodging his question , the White House trade adviser insisted that Trump was “ straightforward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Navarro also told Tapper in the same interview that during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic , the country was in the “ fog of war ” and that there were “ competing views ” on “ whether this is simply the flu or whether this is very serious ” at the time , despite recordings by Woodward of the President ’ s comments on the severity of COVID-19 .
But it ’ s not just the White House that came to the President ’ s defense on Sunday — Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
Here ’ s how they defended the President ’ s public downplaying of COVID-19 following revelations in Woodward ’ s book : While blaming the “ corporate media ” for “ pushing out a myth that the President mishandled the virus ” during an interview on Fox News Sunday , Cortes echoed Navarro ’ s sentiment by arguing that Trump ’ s past comments that likened the novel coronavirus to the seasonal flu was like being in “ the fog of war.
” After Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace refuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security officials such as Robert O ’ Brien and Matthew Pottinger warned that COVID-19 would become a deadly pandemic , Cortes blamed Dr. Anthony Fauci for his comments in late February and said that “ opinions and views and analyses were shifting dramatically among the scientists , among the politicians this entire time , as we were trying to learn about the virus.
” During an interview on ABC News , Miller touted Trump for “ accurately saying that Americans are starting to safely and responsibly reopen all around the country , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominee Joe Biden wants “ everyone to stay locked in their basement forever.
” When asked what evidence he has for that claim , Miller pointed to Biden ’ s remark on ABC News last month that if elected , the former VP would be willing to shut down the country again if there is a second wave of the novel coronavirus and scientists recommend the move to reduce its spread .
“ What we need is to safely and responsibly move forward and developing this vaccine is absolutely critical , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden campaign for “ casting doubt ” over a Trumpian half-baked COVID-19 vaccine .
When asked during an interview on MSNBC ’ s Meet the Press about whether Trump downplayed COVID-19 for political reasons , McDaniel said that she disagreed with the notion and argued that the President “ took political calculations into a global pandemic like we ’ ve never seen before that has decimated not just our country but countries across the world.
” “ The President was calm and steady and methodical , ” McDaniel said , citing how Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force and restricted travel from China earlier this year .
McDaniel then echoed Trump ’ s admission to downplaying the severity of COVID-19 on purpose due to how he is “ a cheerleader for this country.
” “ Think of what would have happened if he ’ d have gone out and said , ‘ This is awful .
We should all be afraid .
We don ’ t have a plan.
’ It would have been a run on the banks , ” McDaniel said .
“ It would have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been a run on the grocery stores .
As it was , it was already hard to get some of the things we needed in the grocery stores.
” McDaniel reiterated that Trump was “ calm and steady in a time of unrest and uncertainty ” and said that she thinks “ history will look back on him well as how he handled this pandemic .
”

Trump campaign officials on Sunday defended the President’s intentional public downplaying of COVID-19 early this year, which journalist Bob Woodward revealed in his forthcoming book.
Woodward, who spoke with Trump 18 times from December to July for his book, wrote that the President privately expressed fear over COVID-19 to him after being warned by national security officials in late January that COVID-19 would be the worst pandemic in a century.
Following reports on Woodward’s book and his reporting on Trump’s private COVID-19 concerns — which stood in stark contrast to his public downplaying of the novel coronavirus — the President admitted that he intentionally downplayed the severity of COVID-19 early this year because he is “a cheerleader for this country.”
On Sunday, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro clashed with CNN’s Jake Tapper when asked why Trump misled the public on COVID-19, citing a Feb. 7 interview that the President had with Woodward when he stated his private concerns on COVID-19.
After Tapper called Navarro out for dodging his question, the White House trade adviser insisted that Trump was “straightforward” before accusing Tapper of “cherry-picking.”
Navarro also told Tapper in the same interview that during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country was in the “fog of war” and that there were “competing views” on “whether this is simply the flu or whether this is very serious” at the time, despite recordings by Woodward of the President’s comments on the severity of COVID-19.
But it’s not just the White House that came to the President’s defense on Sunday — Trump campaign officials hopped on the bandwagon as well. Here’s how they defended the President’s public downplaying of COVID-19 following revelations in Woodward’s book:
Trump campaign senior adviser Steve Cortes
While blaming the “corporate media” for “pushing out a myth that the President mishandled the virus” during an interview on Fox News Sunday, Cortes echoed Navarro’s sentiment by arguing that Trump’s past comments that likened the novel coronavirus to the seasonal flu was like being in “the fog of war.”
After Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace refuted the characterization by bringing up how national security officials such as Robert O’Brien and Matthew Pottinger warned that COVID-19 would become a deadly pandemic, Cortes blamed Dr. Anthony Fauci for his comments in late February and said that “opinions and views and analyses were shifting dramatically among the scientists, among the politicians this entire time, as we were trying to learn about the virus.”
Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller
During an interview on ABC News, Miller touted Trump for “accurately saying that Americans are starting to safely and responsibly reopen all around the country,” before going on to claim that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wants “everyone to stay locked in their basement forever.”
When asked what evidence he has for that claim, Miller pointed to Biden’s remark on ABC News last month that if elected, the former VP would be willing to shut down the country again if there is a second wave of the novel coronavirus and scientists recommend the move to reduce its spread.
“What we need is to safely and responsibly move forward and developing this vaccine is absolutely critical,” Miller said, while railing against the Biden campaign for “casting doubt” over a Trumpian half-baked COVID-19 vaccine.
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel
When asked during an interview on MSNBC’s Meet the Press about whether Trump downplayed COVID-19 for political reasons, McDaniel said that she disagreed with the notion and argued that the President “took political calculations into a global pandemic like we’ve never seen before that has decimated not just our country but countries across the world.”
“The President was calm and steady and methodical,” McDaniel said, citing how Trump set up the White House Coronavirus Task Force and restricted travel from China earlier this year.
McDaniel then echoed Trump’s admission to downplaying the severity of COVID-19 on purpose due to how he is “a cheerleader for this country.”
“Think of what would have happened if he’d have gone out and said, ‘This is awful. We should all be afraid. We don’t have a plan.’ It would have been a run on the banks,” McDaniel said. “It would have been a run on the hospitals. It would have been a run on the grocery stores. As it was, it was already hard to get some of the things we needed in the grocery stores.”
McDaniel reiterated that Trump was “calm and steady in a time of unrest and uncertainty” and said that she thinks “history will look back on him well as how he handled this pandemic.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-13--Dems Rip Trump For Blaming West Coast Wildfires On Lack Of ‘Forest Management’

Prominent Democrats on the West Coast on Sunday took aim at President Trump a day after he told rallygoers in Minden , Nevada that the wildfires raging in the region can be blamed on lack of “ forest management.
” “ It is about forest management .
Please remember the words , very simply : forest management .
Please remember , about forest management , and other things , ” Trump said on Saturday , as he continues dismissing climate change as a cause behind the wildfires that are burning across several Western states and forcing thousands to evacuate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will visit California on Monday — a long-awaited move as the fires have destroyed millions of acres in the West for weeks .
The next day , Democrats joined Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in rebuking Trump ’ s dismissal of climate change and criticizing the White House for its failure to take bold action to battle wildfires engulfing Western states .
“ The science is clear , and deadly signs like these are unmistakable — climate change poses an imminent , existential threat to our way of life , ” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here ’ s how they weighed in : During an interview on CNN , Garcetti refuted Trump ’ s repeated characterization of wildfires as simply a “ forest management ” issue .
“ It ’ s been very clear that years of drought , as we ’ re seeing , whether it ’ s too much water and too much rain in parts of our country right now , or too little , ” Garcetti said.
” This is climate change and this is an administration that ’ s put its head in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration is hosting “ the last vestiges of the flat Earth society of this generation ” before demanding “ real action ” and calling Trump out for stoking a baseless assertion .
“ We need to reduce the carbon emissions that we have , and we need to make sure we can manage that water , ” Garcetti said .
“ This is not about just forest management or raking .
Anybody who lives here in California is insulted by that , quite frankly , and ( Trump ) keeps perpetrating this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told ABC News that Trump ’ s unfounded “ forest management ” claim behind the raging wildfires as a “ big and devastating lie.
” “ The Cascade snowpacks have gotten smaller .
Our forests have gotten drier .
Our ocean has gotten warmer and more acidic .
And this has been happening steadily over the last several decades , ” Merkley said .
“ These are consequences of a warming planet that have huge impacts , huge impacts on rural America , with our forests , with our farming , with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or red .
This should not be rural or urban .
This is devastating to everyone.
” Merkley then said that the country needs a President who follows science .
“ Just on COVID , we need to have a President follow the science .
We need to have a president now who follows the science on global warming , ” Merkley said .
“ America not only has to get its own act in order .
It has to help lead the world to take this on .
This is a planetary-scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership to end.
” After saying that it ’ s “ maddening ” for the President to deny climate change , Inslee urged voters in the November election to vote out Trump “ who has downplayed climate change , just like he ’ s downplayed COVID.
” “ And for Donald Trump to say he ’ s a hero of climate change is like saying he ’ s a hero of masks against COVID , ” Inslee said .
The Washington governor then rebuked Trump suggesting that “ somehow we could have solved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ just a bunch of malarkey.
” Inslee recalled how he visited Bridgeport , Washington , a town that lost about 20 home , on Saturday and that the wildfires there came from grass , bunchgrass , cheatgrass and sagebrush .
“ It doesn ’ t have a dang thing to do with thinning timber , ” Inslee said .
“ It ’ s just a bunch of malarkey.
” Inslee conceded that there are places “ where it makes sense that we thin our timber , ” which he insisted Washington state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration for refusing to ” help us actually finance that ” because “ they just want an excuse.
” Although Brown was pressed specifically about former Oregon lawmakers writing op-eds in The Washington Post that dismiss climate change and instead blame the wildfires raving the state on the failure of its government to prepare , Brown told CBS about how she stood up a fire council about two and a half years ago after Republicans wouldn ’ t take action following the council ’ s report .
“ Folks came together , Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The council had an extensive report and called for extensive investments in our communities , harvesting and thinning , ” Brown said .
“ Unfortunately , the Republicans walked away from the legislative session and we were unable to get that done.
” Brown then argued that the wildfires can ’ t simply be blamed on forest mismanagement .
“ It ’ s both , ” Brown said .
“ It ’ s decades of mismanagement of our forests in this country , and it is the failure to tackle climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And we can .
”

Prominent Democrats on the West Coast on Sunday took aim at President Trump a day after he told rallygoers in Minden, Nevada that the wildfires raging in the region can be blamed on lack of “forest management.”
“It is about forest management. Please remember the words, very simply: forest management. Please remember, about forest management, and other things,” Trump said on Saturday, as he continues dismissing climate change as a cause behind the wildfires that are burning across several Western states and forcing thousands to evacuate.
On Saturday, the White House announced Trump will visit California on Monday — a long-awaited move as the fires have destroyed millions of acres in the West for weeks.
The next day, Democrats joined Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in rebuking Trump’s dismissal of climate change and criticizing the White House for its failure to take bold action to battle wildfires engulfing Western states.
“The science is clear, and deadly signs like these are unmistakable — climate change poses an imminent, existential threat to our way of life,” Biden said in a statement on Saturday.
Here’s how they weighed in:
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D)
During an interview on CNN, Garcetti refuted Trump’s repeated characterization of wildfires as simply a “forest management” issue.
“It’s been very clear that years of drought, as we’re seeing, whether it’s too much water and too much rain in parts of our country right now, or too little,” Garcetti said.”This is climate change and this is an administration that’s put its head in the sand.”
Garcetti added that the Trump administration is hosting “the last vestiges of the flat Earth society of this generation” before demanding “real action” and calling Trump out for stoking a baseless assertion.
“We need to reduce the carbon emissions that we have, and we need to make sure we can manage that water,” Garcetti said. “This is not about just forest management or raking. Anybody who lives here in California is insulted by that, quite frankly, and (Trump) keeps perpetrating this lie.”
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on Pres. Trump’s upcoming visit to CA as wildfires spread across the state: “He’s going to come out here and probably tell us, 'I’m going to send you rakes instead of more help.' We need actual help … not based on our party affiliation.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/GV4HnG3eBV — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) September 13, 2020
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Much like Garcetti, Merkley told ABC News that Trump’s unfounded “forest management” claim behind the raging wildfires as a “big and devastating lie.”
“The Cascade snowpacks have gotten smaller. Our forests have gotten drier. Our ocean has gotten warmer and more acidic. And this has been happening steadily over the last several decades,” Merkley said. “These are consequences of a warming planet that have huge impacts, huge impacts on rural America, with our forests, with our farming, with our fishing. This should not be blue or red. This should not be rural or urban. This is devastating to everyone.”
Merkley then said that the country needs a President who follows science.
“Just on COVID, we need to have a President follow the science. We need to have a president now who follows the science on global warming,” Merkley said. “America not only has to get its own act in order. It has to help lead the world to take this on. This is a planetary-scale tragedy of the commons that we need leadership to end.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley tells @GStephanopoulos that Trump blaming the wildfires on “forest management” is “just a big and devastating lie.” “These are consequences of a warming planet … just like on COVID, we need to have a president follow the science.” https://t.co/6Lawdg4ja0 pic.twitter.com/fXe4ZtwoC6 — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 13, 2020
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D)
After saying that it’s “maddening” for the President to deny climate change, Inslee urged voters in the November election to vote out Trump “who has downplayed climate change, just like he’s downplayed COVID.”
“And for Donald Trump to say he’s a hero of climate change is like saying he’s a hero of masks against COVID,” Inslee said.
The Washington governor then rebuked Trump suggesting that “somehow we could have solved this problem by timber thinning” as “just a bunch of malarkey.”
Inslee recalled how he visited Bridgeport, Washington, a town that lost about 20 home, on Saturday and that the wildfires there came from grass, bunchgrass, cheatgrass and sagebrush.
“It doesn’t have a dang thing to do with thinning timber,” Inslee said. “It’s just a bunch of malarkey.”
Inslee conceded that there are places “where it makes sense that we thin our timber,” which he insisted Washington state is doing, before slamming the Trump administration for refusing to”help us actually finance that” because “they just want an excuse.”
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D)
Although Brown was pressed specifically about former Oregon lawmakers writing op-eds in The Washington Post that dismiss climate change and instead blame the wildfires raving the state on the failure of its government to prepare, Brown told CBS about how she stood up a fire council about two and a half years ago after Republicans wouldn’t take action following the council’s report.
“Folks came together, Republicans, Democrats, to tackle the issues. The council had an extensive report and called for extensive investments in our communities, harvesting and thinning,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, the Republicans walked away from the legislative session and we were unable to get that done.”
Brown then argued that the wildfires can’t simply be blamed on forest mismanagement.
“It’s both,” Brown said. “It’s decades of mismanagement of our forests in this country, and it is the failure to tackle climate change. We need to do both. And we can.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-13--How COVID-19 Poses Challenges To Evacuations Amid Raging West Coast Wildfires

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) — Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as destructive wildfires roar across the West Coast , and many of them could end up in shelters , raising potential health risks during the coronavirus pandemic .
The shelters ’ impact on public health is “ an unusually important and under-researched topic , ” said Karl Kim , executive director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center , which trains first responders .
“ People are really scrambling right now to figure out how this affects the guidance and messaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations like the American Red Cross are requiring masks and trying to keep evacuees at least 6 feet ( 2 meters ) apart , but it can be difficult for people already reeling from a disaster to consistently follow the rules .
Kathy Gee , 68 , has diabetes and other conditions that make her vulnerable to the virus , but that didn ’ t kept her from evacuating from her farm in Molalla , Oregon , to a shelter in Portland .
“ If it ’ s going to happen , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m tough , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve survived lots of things .
I can survive that.
” At the Oregon State Fairgrounds in the capital of Salem , groups of maskless evacuees gathered in a parking lot and a barn Friday , talking about the unprecedented wildfires that have destroyed an area greater than the size of Rhode Island .
Volunteers wearing disposable masks walked from group to group , taking down their information and asking what they need for the days ahead .
Signs plastered the doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were set up , with safety guidelines for both wildfires and the pandemic .
Inside , nearly everyone wore masks , likely because volunteers manning the door reminded them to do so .
The fires in California , Oregon and Washington state have killed several people and left dozens missing .
In the three states , 6,300 are already in emergency Red Cross shelters and hotels and as many as 50,000 more could be before the blazes are under control , said Brad Kieserman , vice president of disaster operations and logistics for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ d be gathering in school gymnasiums and meeting halls , sleeping on cots and eating at buffet lines , all provided by organizations like the Red Cross , Salvation Army and other faith and community groups .
But because COVID-19 is airborne and easily spread in close quarters , gathering places are potential hotbeds of transmission .
That ’ s got disaster assistance groups taking a different approach .
“ Noncongregate shelters is a new pandemic thing , ” Kieserman said .
“ The last thing we want to have happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a wildfire or hurricane because they think it ’ s safer to do that than risk a shelter.
” The Red Cross is trying to prevent the virus from spreading at shelters by regularly testing staffers , cleaning and disinfecting often , requiring masks and screening evacuees for signs of illness .
Those who are sick or have symptoms are sent to special isolation shelters and kept away from one another .
When possible , displaced residents are sent to hotels instead of group shelters .
Instead of buffet lines , box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not using a gym , we ’ re renting a hotel room at 120 dollars a night .
And hotels charge for parking — it ’ s all those things you never think about during a disaster , ” Kieserman said .
In central California , where thousands of residents had to flee the Creek Fire , more than 1,200 evacuees are staying at 30 hotels , said Tony Briggs with the Red Cross in Fresno .
In group shelters , staffers are using plastic pipes strung with clear shower curtains to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out from their own socially distanced areas .
Mass evacuations of this scale are incredibly difficult , said Kim , who ’ s also director of the Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Program at the University of Hawaii .
Generally , he said evacuees either leave early and quickly or aren ’ t as mobile and require some help getting out .
“ The group I ’ m most concerned about are people with mobility challenges , ” he said .
“ They may have health or other challenges that make it difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or elderly people who live alone , or people with animals may also have lots of disincentives to want to evacuate.
” They might decide to wait it out longer and also are more likely to need shelters , he said .
Some of them could be at greater risk of COVID-19 complications .
In Oregon , group shelters are set up at churches , colleges and community buildings , while malls , golf courses and other businesses opened parking for evacuees who can stay in recreational vehicles .
It will likely be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to the virus spreading , and even then , it may be difficult to tell as families scatter to new locations .
“ Contract tracing is really critical during a pandemic , and just because there ’ s a wildfire , all of the needs associated with contract tracing don ’ t just go away , ” Kim said .
“ I think it ’ s more complicated because of the urgent nature of the evacuation .
We don ’ t have good systems for this ; nonetheless , we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ongoing public health challenge.
” Some lessons may be learned from Louisiana and Texas .
Both had high rates of COVID-19 when hurricanes hit in late August .
Louisiana used its “ Megashelter , ” a facility spanning more than 200,000 square feet ( 18,580 square meters ) that ’ s designed to hold nearly 4,000 evacuees , for those with special medical needs during Hurricane Laura .
Others got help finding hotel rooms and vouchers to cover the cost .
Louisiana health officials are now offering evacuees mobile COVID-19 testing .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as destructive wildfires roar across the West Coast, and many of them could end up in shelters, raising potential health risks during the coronavirus pandemic.
The shelters’ impact on public health is “an unusually important and under-researched topic,” said Karl Kim, executive director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, which trains first responders. “People are really scrambling right now to figure out how this affects the guidance and messaging and so forth.”
Large disaster response organizations like the American Red Cross are requiring masks and trying to keep evacuees at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart, but it can be difficult for people already reeling from a disaster to consistently follow the rules.
Kathy Gee, 68, has diabetes and other conditions that make her vulnerable to the virus, but that didn’t kept her from evacuating from her farm in Molalla, Oregon, to a shelter in Portland.
“If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. I’m tough,” she said. “I’ve survived lots of things. I can survive that.”
At the Oregon State Fairgrounds in the capital of Salem, groups of maskless evacuees gathered in a parking lot and a barn Friday, talking about the unprecedented wildfires that have destroyed an area greater than the size of Rhode Island. Volunteers wearing disposable masks walked from group to group, taking down their information and asking what they need for the days ahead.
Signs plastered the doors of the exposition center, where cots were set up, with safety guidelines for both wildfires and the pandemic. Inside, nearly everyone wore masks, likely because volunteers manning the door reminded them to do so.
The fires in California, Oregon and Washington state have killed several people and left dozens missing. In the three states, 6,300 are already in emergency Red Cross shelters and hotels and as many as 50,000 more could be before the blazes are under control, said Brad Kieserman, vice president of disaster operations and logistics for the American Red Cross.
Normally, they’d be gathering in school gymnasiums and meeting halls, sleeping on cots and eating at buffet lines, all provided by organizations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other faith and community groups. But because COVID-19 is airborne and easily spread in close quarters, gathering places are potential hotbeds of transmission. That’s got disaster assistance groups taking a different approach.
“Noncongregate shelters is a new pandemic thing,” Kieserman said. “The last thing we want to have happen is people to remain in the path of a wildfire or hurricane because they think it’s safer to do that than risk a shelter.”
The Red Cross is trying to prevent the virus from spreading at shelters by regularly testing staffers, cleaning and disinfecting often, requiring masks and screening evacuees for signs of illness. Those who are sick or have symptoms are sent to special isolation shelters and kept away from one another. When possible, displaced residents are sent to hotels instead of group shelters. Instead of buffet lines, box lunches are delivered.
“We’re not using a gym, we’re renting a hotel room at 120 dollars a night. And hotels charge for parking — it’s all those things you never think about during a disaster,” Kieserman said.
In central California, where thousands of residents had to flee the Creek Fire, more than 1,200 evacuees are staying at 30 hotels, said Tony Briggs with the Red Cross in Fresno. In group shelters, staffers are using plastic pipes strung with clear shower curtains to separate evacuees but allow them to see out from their own socially distanced areas.
Mass evacuations of this scale are incredibly difficult, said Kim, who’s also director of the Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Program at the University of Hawaii.
Generally, he said evacuees either leave early and quickly or aren’t as mobile and require some help getting out.
“The group I’m most concerned about are people with mobility challenges,” he said. “They may have health or other challenges that make it difficult to get information and act quickly, or elderly people who live alone, or people with animals may also have lots of disincentives to want to evacuate.”
They might decide to wait it out longer and also are more likely to need shelters, he said. Some of them could be at greater risk of COVID-19 complications.
In Oregon, group shelters are set up at churches, colleges and community buildings, while malls, golf courses and other businesses opened parking for evacuees who can stay in recreational vehicles.
It will likely be weeks before officials know if the evacuations contributed to the virus spreading, and even then, it may be difficult to tell as families scatter to new locations.
“Contract tracing is really critical during a pandemic, and just because there’s a wildfire, all of the needs associated with contract tracing don’t just go away,” Kim said. “I think it’s more complicated because of the urgent nature of the evacuation. We don’t have good systems for this; nonetheless, we need to do that tracking. That’s the ongoing public health challenge.”
Some lessons may be learned from Louisiana and Texas. Both had high rates of COVID-19 when hurricanes hit in late August.
Louisiana used its “Megashelter,” a facility spanning more than 200,000 square feet (18,580 square meters) that’s designed to hold nearly 4,000 evacuees, for those with special medical needs during Hurricane Laura. Others got help finding hotel rooms and vouchers to cover the cost. Louisiana health officials are now offering evacuees mobile COVID-19 testing.