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Cold snap forces homeless to shelters; freezing temps devastate citrus crops
By: North County Times staff reports - | ∞
Sam Johnson, right, enters Bread of Life Inc. for a hot meal Tuesday. Behind him he pulls his bedroll that he said is not thick enough to keep him warm during the low temperatures the last few nights.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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NORTH COUNTY -- Temperatures below freezing have filled local homeless shelters and also have San Diego County's prolific agricultural industry counting its losses, though forecasts call for warmer nights by the weekend.
Hardest hit are the avocado groves, where more than 3,000 acres of fruit trees could be ruined in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. Local farm officials said statewide avocado losses could surpass record 1990 levels, when California farms lost an estimated 50 million pounds of fruit worth $40 million. Farmers said that they wouldn't know the full effects of the cold weather until at least the weekend.
"It's the coldest spell I've seen in my lifetime," said Mike Rennie, who has grown avocados and citrus in Temecula since 1972. "We don't have the facilities to combat the chill."
Some of the homeless people in coastal North County turned to the Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside for a warm spot to sleep and a plate of food from a local church.
Sam Johnson, who said he has been living on the street full-time since July, said it was simple irrigation that convinced him he should stay at the shelter.
"I saw water coming out of some sprinklers over there, and it was freezing on the sidewalk," Johnson said.
Because the coast is generally 5 to 10 degrees warmer than inland hills and valleys, homeless men and women often migrate there in winter. But last weekend had coastal temperatures dropping below freezing, a meteorological fact that mystified Johnson.
"It's some kind of record," he said.
Noel Isla, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said San Diego County has not seen coastal temperatures this low since 1990.
"It seldom happens but it's not unheard of to go below freezing on the coast," Isla said.
The cold snap sent North County residents searching for any way to bring a little extra warmth indoors. At Denault's True Value in Carlsbad, customers were buying space heaters of all shapes and sizes.
Manager Rich Nyberg said that because coastal cities do not see as much variation in seasonal weather, many homes and apartments are unheated.
"They don't have heaters or air conditioners, so it's fans in the summer and heaters in the winter," Nyberg said.
Most residents might expect heating bills to skyrocket as the temperature falls, but San Diego Gas & Electric Co. said that probably wouldn't happen. Although natural gas usage for SDG&E's customers is up 20 percent compared with last year, natural gas prices are down 33 percent from the same period a year ago. SDG&E officials said the lower natural gas prices should offset any price increases from higher usage.
Utility officials said that customers should see very little change in electricity costs because usage hasn't changed much compared with last year.
The Weather Service issued a "red flag" warning that ended at 6 p.m. Tuesday for most of North County -- meaning that conditions were ripe for a fire -- adding that much of the young vegetation covering recently burned areas had been killed by the cold and would make good kindling.
The forecast called for clouds and possible rain showers starting tonight. Stan Wasowski said Tuesday that the storm would likely be small and should depart the region by Thursday night.
"Might get a sprinkle here, a little shower there, but it's not going to do much," Wasowski said. "So don't blink, or you'll miss it."
Mostly sunny skies are expected through the weekend. Inland, daytime temperatures will warm, reaching the low 70s beginning Sunday. Overnight lows will be in the mid- to high 30s, getting into the low 40s as the weekend ends.
While energy bills are likely to be about the same as last year, the same could also be said for avocado prices, regardless of local fruit losses. Imports from Mexico and Chile should make up the difference between a normal harvest and this year's reduced harvest. Starting Feb. 1, Mexican growers will be allowed to import avocados to California, the current producer of 90 percent of the U.S. avocado crop.
Freezing temperatures actually freeze the water inside avocado leaves and branches, causing the water to burst and making leaves and branches look like they were burned, farmers said. When that happens to branches, they aren't strong enough to hold the fruit, which falls to the ground and becomes useless to farmers, they said.
Avocados weren't the only agricultural products affected by cold weather. Rennie, chief financial officer for Stage Ranch Farm Management in Temecula, said that he could lose 80 percent of his lemon and grapefruit crop because of the below-freezing temperatures. Nurseries have been working with climate-controlled greenhouses and other devices to keep flowers and plants alive.
While many homeless people turned to North County shelters to stay warm, some of them braved the weather without complaint.
A man fixing himself a yogurt snack in front of the Escondido Public Library proclaimed his independence from local social service agencies' requirements.
"I don't need their soup kitchen," said Gary, who preferred not to give his last name. "I'm a survivor. I survive out here every night."
Gary, in his early 60s, said he had worked for 30 years as a painter but now had trouble finding work.
He said he had a friend at a supermarket who gave him groceries after their expiration date. He also had found quiet places to sleep with his sleeping bag, where he would not attract the notice of the police.
"Out of sight, out of mind," he said.
-- Staff writers Patrick Wright, Paul Sisson and Quinn Eastman contributed to this story.
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So that old guy has a name wrote on Jan 16, 2007 9:51 PM:He is one of the regular street people, they definitely add character to the streets!!!
Donna wrote on Jan 16, 2007 10:31 PM:If a homeless person were to freeze to death, would the Escondido City Council be legally liable? I know they are morally liable for the suffering they inflict to futher their political careers, but could charges be brought for criminal neglect?
Hey Donna wrote on Jan 17, 2007 3:36 AM:I have a question for you. Who is charged and tried when someone decides to commit suicide. Why can't Gary, the painter find work? I saw Gary a couple of weeks ago outside the library making dinner. I wondered if he would prefer a warm meal but he seemed to have things under control. Now that I know his name I will ask him next time I see him. My guess is that he will probably tell me to take a hike.
Randy wrote on Jan 17, 2007 4:09 AM:The Escondido Police Chief answers to the Escondido City Council. The Escondido Police Chief would have to be felony stupid to arrest his bosses for criminal neglect!
Nanchi wrote on Jan 17, 2007 6:35 AM:If you really want to help, buy a sleeping bag to give them. WalMart has ones that are good down to 22 degrees, and they are only $33.00. I've bought several, and the recipients were very grateful.
Scott wrote on Jan 17, 2007 8:43 AM:North SD County has built new, beautiful (heated) animal shelters (check out the one on Palamar Airport road!). The government does more for a homeless dog than a homeless person.
To Donna... wrote on Jan 17, 2007 9:00 AM:...Get off the City of Escondido's back! We are the most generous of all cities in North County and I am getting sick of hearing these kinds of jabs. You do NOT know or hear much about individual citizen's random (and otherwise)acts of kindness; what they do quietly to help other's out.
morty wrote on Jan 17, 2007 9:27 AM:I THINK YOU CAN SUE EVEN YOUR PRESIDENT. DONT MEAN ANYTHING.CITY COUNCIL IS DOING A JOB WE PAY THEM TODO. THEY HAVE A JOB. MAYBE THE HOMELESS NEED A JOB.WHERE I GREW UP THE HOME LESS WERE CALLED HOBOS THEY RODE THE RAILS.THE SUE WORD WAS SOME ONE WITH THAT NAME.YOU PEOPLE ARE OUT OF CONTROL.
Michelle wrote on Jan 17, 2007 9:28 AM:I really think with the freezing temperatures the city of Escondido has an obligation to provide the homeless with a warm place to sleep and a warm meal to eat. We always have trouble with helping our own and are always so quick to come to the rescue of others. Its cold!
morty wrote on Jan 17, 2007 10:51 AM:SCOTT THERES NOT ALOT OF JOBS OUT THERE FOR DOGS BUT THEY WILL WORK. IF YOU TRAIN THEM. SOME OF THE PEOPLE I TALK TO DONT WANT A JOB THEY LIKE LIVING OFF OF PEOPLE.
Johnny wrote on Jan 17, 2007 10:57 AM:Michelle- A place to sleep and a meal provided by the Government. Basically that is Communism-all your needs are provided for by the Government-food and shelter. This is why we have churches and charity to help the poor. Donate to a charity that helps the homeless, or personally help a homeless person.
morty wrote on Jan 17, 2007 12:11 PM:REAL MAN WHAT IS 8 BELOW? I NEED A GOOD CRY MY BEST FRIEND DIED SAT NITE.95 YRS.
homeless professional wrote on Jan 17, 2007 2:56 PM:It's amusing how people clammor to debate about how to manage the lives of free, grown adults. Who are you to condesend to me because I am quasi-nomadic? The best things in life are not things (like houses). It is laughably disconserting that so many stationary people are primarily concerned that I might not have access to cable tv. Save yourselves and mind your own presumptions. It is a beautiful world out here.
Johnnyo wrote on Jan 17, 2007 6:02 PM:Yes , homelss professonal you are living as you like and it is your choice. Our family helped a family member who had been homeless for the past 20 years. He slept in the bushes and so we felt sorry and bought him a small home in another state. Let him have it rent free! Problem solved---not quite seems that we began reciving notices from code enforcement about all the garbage and un-mowed-lawn. The new lawn mower we bought him was sold for a few dollars. Too much responsibility for this person. Turns out he was sleepimg in the woods most of the time as preferable to a house, and he let the property go down the drain.
Roger wrote on Jan 17, 2007 6:11 PM:It is true that some people perfer to live on the streets and so be it. It is also true that there are many street people with mental issues, Mothers with children, uneducated and unemployed people that get negitively impacted and need help from time to time. You people have so much, why can't you give just a little. Just the price of one Starbucks coffee a week to a charity that cares for those in need. I see so much talk, especally the negitive against street people. How about taking some responsibility and helping more and talking less - for a change.
It's much warmer in... wrote on Jan 17, 2007 8:07 PM:South America. These homeless do not want to work, so they can be lazy down South. Homelessness is a problem the homeless desire to have. Offer one work and see what I mean. They wil give you a myriad of excuses.
To Roger wrote on Jan 17, 2007 8:09 PM:If you want to pay for street people, you are part of the problem. They will go be lazy somewhere else when you stop feeding them Quit being an irresponsible crutch.
Candy cane wrote on Jan 7, 2008 7:26 AM:All the homeless ppl need to get off the streat i am pretty sure that if you go to a shelter and ask for helpthey will not turn you down. living on the street isn't only cold its bad for teh ppl's health. also when they die it drops your population n not only does it do that it makes the streets look bad
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