MONTEREY COUNTY — In the aftermath of the recent severe weather event, commonly referred to as the Pineapple Express, the County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities and Parks — in conjunction with the management team at Laguna Seca Recreational Area, home of the WeatherTech Raceway — has announced its pivotal role as the primary staging area for Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) recovery effort in Monterey County.
In addition, the County of Monterey has offered PG&E the use of Toro Park in Salinas as a debris staging area to ease cleanup work in the interest of speedy restoration of services to residents and businesses.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, renowned for its iconic motorsports’ events, will now shift gears to serve as a central hub for equipment deployment coming from various locations across northern California.
This strategic collaboration aims to expedite the restoration of power, inspection of critical infrastructure and, most significantly, the swift reconnection of more than 30,000 customers without power in Monterey County as of Monday.
John Narigi, president at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, expressed his commitment to the recovery effort.
“In times of crisis, our community must come together to support one another,” Narigi said. “Laguna Seca Raceway is honored to play a crucial role in facilitating the arrival and deployment of vital equipment that will aid in the restoration of power for our fellow residents. We stand united with the County of Monterey and PG&E to ensure a swift recovery for our community.”
Randy Ishii, the County’s director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks, emphasized the collective dedication to the recovery process.
“The collaboration between the County of Monterey and Laguna Seca Raceway exemplifies the strength of our community partnerships,” Ishii said. “Our collective commitment to supporting PG&E in this recovery effort is unwavering. We understand the urgency of restoring power to the affected areas, and our combined efforts will make a significant impact on the region’s recovery.”
This joint initiative underscores the resilience and solidarity of the Monterey County community as it comes together to overcome the challenges posed by the recent storms.
Find current emergency notifications and location maps, plus sign up for emergency notifications at readymontereycounty.org.
