CALIFORNIA’S WINE REGION RECEIVES A “STATE OF EMERGENCY.”

California Gov. Arnold (“I’ll be back”) Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Monday in seven northern and central California counties. The governor called March 2006 the rainiest March on record for the region and with more rain on the horizon, people and property are in “extreme peril.” Growers will not be able to access their vineyards with a tractor for weeks and harvests will be postponed. Many reservoirs in California’s Central Valley are at full capacity, and at least 10 more days of rain are in the forecast. Although Arnold didn’t specify an amount of aid when making the announcement on Monday, he directed “all agencies of the state” to dispatch staff, equipment and facilities. The region includes the counties of Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Merced, San Joaquin, San Mateo and Stanislaus. Schwarzenegger already declared a state of emergency for California's levee system in February, a move that freed up about $103 million for repairs to 24 flood-prone sites.