INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016 Blizzard hits Calif Louisiana reeling from SAN FRANCISCO: A storm front that closed snapped up sandbags. Nearly 400 flights days of pounding rain schools and snarled Northern California traf- were delayed because of weather at San fic moved south Friday, drenching the Los Francisco International Airport and about 75 Angeles area with brief but fierce downpours were canceled, most of them smaller planes, COVINGTON: Roads were submerged, bridges that snapped power lines, sent hikers up a officials said. Roads were closed because of washed out, and cars abandoned in rivers and tree and prompted a spate of flood advi- floods and mudslides. The closures included a streams as Louisiana struggled Friday from days of sories. The afternoon rain fell in torrents in portion of California Highway 1 in Mendocino severe weather that forced residents across the foothill areas, dumping nearly a quarter-inch County where overnight slides nearly top- state to flee their homes. The rain and flooding is in five minutes in the northeastern suburb of pled a California Department of part of a weather system that has affected La Canada Flintridge, the National Weather Transportation dump truck with an employee Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Service reported. inside. The truck hit a guardrail - stopping its Alabama. At least three people have died in In Riverside, east of Los Angeles, the storm fall - and landed at a 45-degree angle. The Louisiana alone. The system that dumped as much snapped a dozen power poles, littering roads employee was uninjured. Scattered power as 20 inches of rain in some areas was slowly mov- with electrical lines, closing streets and leav- outages affected several thousand people. ing out of the region, but the effects could still be ing about 3,000 customers without electrici- The latest in a series of storms moved in felt as rivers in some areas were waiting to crest, ty, city and fire officials said. In Los Angeles, a Thursday night, adding more moisture to an more rain was expected Saturday and water in oth- power line fell on a car in the San Fernando already wet March that has resulted in mud- er areas was still draining. Valley, trapping the driver until the line could slides and swollen creeks. A mudslide was In neighboring Mississippi, the worst appeared be de-energized so firefighters could move in likely to blame for a commuter train that yet to come as officials said as many as 1,000 resi- for a rescue, fire department spokeswoman derailed east of San Francisco on Monday, dents could see their homes flooded by the rapidly Margaret Stewart said. In the Hollywood Hills, injuring nine. Bobby Rehfeldt of Goodman rising Leaf River in Hattiesburg, Petal and surround- firefighters rescued two hikers who climbed a Building Supply off US 101 in Mill Valley, said ing areas. In southwest Louisiana, a band of rain LOUISIANA: A car sits in flooded water at Nash’s Express convenience store in tree and were afraid to risk a rain-soaked trail Friday that most of the customers in the dumped 10 to 15 inches of rain across some areas Hammond, La. — AP on Mulholland Drive, Stewart said. busy store were thrilled with the rain, late Thursday and into Friday, sparking vicious flash However, no major flooding was reported, although some are understandably unhap- flooding. Allen DeWeese was living in the Land-o- 15-20 inches streets and were going to an RV park to wait out the she said. Locals suffering through years of py about leaks. “Lots of people are buying Pines campground in Covington with his 10-year- In northern Louisiana, the deluge has dumped 15- rain. “We’d heard we’d get a lot of rain, but it all came drought and a dry winter were happy to see tarps and roof patch and heat guns to dry old son when the rushing waters of the Tchefuncte 20 inches this week. In Ouachita Parish, well over 1,000 so sudden,” she said. “We hate to leave, but we the wet weather. “I love the smell, the fresh stuff up, anything for getting water off the River destroyed his trailer. “They’re calling it Land-o- people have been evacuated, said Glenn Springfield, a thought we’d get out while we can.” At the Pecan clean air because it takes the dirt out of the ground, and sandbags are flying out of here,” Lakes right at the moment,” he joked, while smok- spokesman for the sheriff’s office. He said they started Valley Estates mobile home park, Sam Cassidy and his air. I like seeing it. It’s been awhile,” Peer Swan, he said. “It’s just rain, and we need it.” ing a cigarette at a shelter set up in Covington. His doing water rescues early Wednesday morning and wife were the last holdouts Friday - worried looters a board member of the Irvine Ranch Water California is entering its fifth year of drought, trailer? “It’s destroyed. It’s underwater.” have been “doing those pretty much around the clock might come if they left. District, told KABC-TV. “I’m afraid that when I and water watchers say anything helps, He planned to spend the night at the shelter. nonstop since then.” People were sandbagging their Thursday morning, with waters creeping up his have to walk up to my car without an umbrel- although it will take years of normal or After that, he wasn’t sure. “I’ll take it day-to-day,” he homes and water had washed out roads and bridges, front steps, he stood in waist-deep water watching his la I’m going to get drenched, but I don’t above-normal rainfall to right the deficit. said. Parish officials there said three local rivers he said. In Bossier Parish, another area in northwest neighbors evacuate. An alligator swam by. By night it mind.” Skies began to ease after a few hours, Rain moved down the Central Coast and were reaching historic levels and would continue to Louisiana clobbered by the rain, at least 1,000 people looked like a “horror movie.” “It was pitch black, the but forecasters also warned of gusty winds - into Southern California during the morning, rise. In nearby Tangipahoa Parish, Sheriff Daniel were evacuated by first responders, said Bill Davis, a houses were empty. It’s been an adventure,” he said. potentially reaching 60 to 75 mph - in some but only a few sprinkles fell during the Edwards said close to 50 roads were closed because spokesman for the sheriff’s department. The severe weather system that has dumped rain mountains and deserts with some snow in funeral for former first lady Nancy Reagan at of high water and an estimated 300 to 400 people He said officials expect waters to overtop the Red across the state has been feeding off of moisture from the mountains. The storm was expected to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in had to evacuate. Further to the east in Washington Chute Levee but it’s too soon to say by how much or the Gulf of Mexico, said Frank Revitte, from the move south and east before leaving the state Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles. A Parish, swollen rivers and creeks led to widespread what damage it could cause. Brenda Maddox was National Weather Service in Slidell. It was starting to today. Northern California was hard hit earlier. waterproof tent behind the library shielded flooding, prompting rescues from scores of homes. forced to flee her home of 26 years. The couple left move slowly to the northeast, he said, giving the state Schools were shuttered, and residents those attending the service. — AP The Coast Guard even had use a helicopter to pluck Thursday with four days of clothes packed. On Friday a chance to dry out, but additional showers are someone trapped on a roof. they came back to retrieve their car from the flooded expected today. — AP Nancy Reagan marriage, era remembered

SIMI VALLEY: Nancy Reagan is once again with her beloved Ronnie. The former first lady’s life was celebrated Friday by 1,000 invited guests who gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to pay final tribute to her and to the endur- ing love she and her husband shared during a storied 52-year marriage. The funeral also marked one of the last chapters of a fading political era that stirs nostalgia among American conser- vatives. Without Mrs. Reagan, her son said, the Republican ren- aissance of the 1980s might not have happened. “There would be no Ronald Reagan Presidential Library without a President Ronald Reagan, and there likely wouldn’t have been a President Ronald Reagan without a Nancy Reagan,” said Ron Reagan, delivering the last of several eulogies during the 90-minute service. Mourners from the top ranks of Washington and Hollywood heard how President Reagan was generally affable and trusting, but Mrs. Reagan was made of dif- ferent cloth.

Fiercely protective She could be gracious and quick with a laugh, but also fiercely protective of her husband and sometimes quick to anger at any perceived slight directed at him. “I think we can admit that she was not always the easiest person to deal with,” her son said, drawing laughter from an audience filled with politicians, heads of state, actors, musicians, a former president and several first ladies. “She could be difficult. She could be demanding. She could a bit excessive. Truly, she could be a roy- al pain in the ass when she wanted to be,” he continued. “But usually only so my father didn’t have to be. “If you happen to run into the ghost of Don Regan some- time, you can just ask him,” he added, referring to the former White House chief of staff Mrs Reagan pushed her husband to fire after the two feuded over policy issues. “Occasionally I’ve thought that even God might not have the guts to argue with Nancy Reagan,” quipped the couple’s daughter, Patti Davis. Each speaker also noted the couple’s enduring love. “When they were together, he hid love notes around the house for her to find,” said another Reagan former chief of staff, James Baker. “She reciprocated by secreting little notes in jellybeans in his suitcase.

Defined by their love “Ronald and Nancy Reagan were defined by their love for each other,” Baker continued. “They were as close to being one person as it is possible for any two people to be.” President Reagan spoke in public so warmly, and so often, about his wife, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney recalled, that he once told Reagan he was making every other world leader look bad in front of their wives. “Well, Brian,” he said the presi- dent told him with a smile, “That’s your problem.” The guest list for the funeral told the story of the couple’s life together, which stretched from Hollywood’s Golden Age to the California state- house during Reagan’s time as governor to the White House. The gathering also brought together Democrat and Republican, an unusual tableau at a time of deep division in Washington and on the 2016 campaign trail. Mourners includ- ed former Reagan administration official Ed Meese, former House Speakers Newt Gingrich (Republican) and Nancy Pelosi (Democrat), Mike Love of the Beach Boys and singer Johnny Mathis. Among those in the front row were first lady Michelle Obama, who was seated next to former President George W Bush. Former first lady and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton sat between Bush’s wife, Laura, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

‘Just Say No’ Gov Jerry Brown escorted Mrs Obama to the funeral, while former Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived with his ex-wife, Maria Shriver. The actor Mr T, who became friendly with Mrs Reagan during her “Just Say No” to drugs campaign, arrived wearing an American flag bandanna. Heavy rain had been fore- cast for the ceremony, and guests were ushered into a cav- ernous waterproof tent behind the library. But a drenching downpour held off until the event concluded. Mrs. Reagan, who died Sunday at 94, was buried next to her husband on the library grounds. The sprawling, Spanish mission-style library is located between the Reagans’ post-White House home in the upscale Bel Air section of Los Angeles and Rancho del Cielo, the “ranch in the sky” where the Reagans spent their leisure time, some- times on horseback, in the rugged mountains near Santa Barbara. On Wednesday and Thursday at the library, more than 5,500 mourners filed slowly past the former first lady’s closed casket, blanketed with white roses and peonies, Mrs Reagan’s favorite flower. Tears often fell. The crowd, many in graying years, spoke to a time when it was “morning again in America” and the nation followed the Reagan doctrine to weaken Soviet influence during the Cold War. — AP