Storm Day 3: Rockslide blocks highway in Auberry. More than 6,000 lose power in Fresno

10 a.m. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Monday to reinforce efforts to help those in Merced County and other parts of the state hurt by floods and other weather damage.

Newsom visited Merced County on Saturday to meet with local officials ans see some of the worst affected areas of Merced County, days after floods overtook the community of Planada and parts of Merced.

California has secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and a Presidential Emergency Declaration in the past week meant to help response and recovery efforts to the storms that have resulted in at least 20 deaths and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

The new executive order includes provisions that help ensure staffing for the emergency response by waiving work hour limitations for retired annuitants; support for residents by waiving fees to replace records like marriage and birth certificates; and flexibility to help health care facilities in those areas remain open and support schools in Merced County affected by flooding.

7:27 a.m. A rockslide at the top of the four-lane highway in Auberry was blocking the eastbound lanes, the California Highway Patrol said.

The rockslide happened about 7:30 a.m. Monday on Highway 168 near Auberry Road, CHP said.

A rockslide the previous day on Highway 140 above Midpines blocked the route into Yosemite, Caltrans reported Sunday evening. It happened near Briceburg in Mariposa County.

6:58 a.m. The National Weather Service issued a “special weather statement” for the eastern parts of Fresno County and into the foothills for 50 mph winds on Monday morning.

The weather notification was for Clovis, Sanger, Reedley and several foothill communities between Fresno and Yosemite National Park, the service said.

The high winds were only expected to be an issue through 8 a.m., and no hail was expected, the service said.

Meteorologists recommended that residents seek shelter in sturdy structures.

Winds of around 40 mph passed through the Fresno area about an hour earlier, the service said.

Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley have seen weeks of thunderstorms during an atmospheric river, which has caused flooding, rock slides and other road hazards.

One tree fell about 6:30 a.m., taking a power pole down with it near Brawley and San Madele avenues, Fresno police said. Two cars struck it, but no injuries were reported.

6:23 a.m. More than 6,000 users were without power in west and northwest Fresno after power lines fell in multiple locations, PG&E said.

Homes were affected about 6:30 a.m. in neighborhoods near Jensen and Blythe avenues, Belmont and Blythe avenues, and Shaw and Grantland Avenues.

PG&E did not give an estimate for the length of the outages.

Power was restored by about 10 a.m.

5:57 a.m. More than 2,600 users lost power in Clovis on Monday as rain continued to pound the region.

Pacific Gas and Electric reported the 2,638 users lost power about 6 a.m. and said the outage appeared to be weather related.

There was no immediate estimation for when the power could be restored for the area mostly north of Herndon Avenue and east of Fowler Avenue, PG&E said.

The power was restored for most of those users by 7:30 a.m., PG&E said.

Smaller pockets of homes around Fresno also were without power on Monday, PG&E’s outage map showed.

A number of trees and power lines were also reported to have fallen around Fresno County as rain and windy conditions hit the region on Monday.

The National Weather Service upgraded its flood warning for Mariposa and Merced counties until 9 p.m. Tuesday.