Windy ‘Pineapple Express’ Will Pack Lots of Rain

A strong storm is expected to hit Southern California today, bringing gusty winds and dumping up to an inch of rain along Orange County’s coastal areas and two inches in the mountains, weather experts said.

Orange County’s heaviest rainfall is likely tonight, with scattered showers off and on through Friday, according to Curtis Brack, a meteorologist for WeatherData Inc., which forecasts weather for The Times.

The storm, known among meteorologists as a “Pineapple Express” because it tapped into ocean moisture near Hawaii, will have traveled east by Saturday, Brack said.

Forecasters say winds will gust to 30 miles per hour and temperatures will remain cool. The expected highs will be in the 60s and lows will be in the 50s, with slightly cooler temperatures Friday.

As the storm approached, volunteers Wednesday handed out 70 sleeping bags to help the county’s hungry and homeless stay warm.

The bags, donated by dozens of Vietnamese and coordinated by magazine publisher Khoi Vu, were a hot item at a lunch served by the group at St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church.

Debbie Suapaia, 32, who received three sleeping bags for her and her children, said they will make the cold nights bearable.

“We’re living in a garage right now,” Suapaia said, “and you know, garages are drafty.”

For Stephen Smith, 48, who has been spending his nights in an abandoned Garden Grove garage, the sleeping bags were a “lifesaver.”

“It’s been getting pretty cold out there,” Smith said as he waited in line for his bag.

In seeking sleeping bag donations, Vu relied on requests for help on Vietnamese radio and through his magazine, Ngay Mai (Tomorrow).

Yen Nguyen, 36, of Santa Ana, said she donated five sleeping bags out of concern for the homeless.

“They are going to be cold,” Nguyen said. “I have a home and it is very cold. These people are going to be miserable.”

Am Nguyen, 48, of Westminster, said she got 25 sleeping bags for the homeless after receiving donations for them from her friends. Nguyen also prepared 25 pounds of fried rice served as part of the Vietnamese meal.

“We want to thank America,” Vu said. “The gift is not as important as the way we give the gift. We do it from here,” Vu said, pointing to his heart. “And we use the money from here,” he said, pointing to his pocket.

In all, the lunch cost about $400 and the donated sleeping bags were valued at about $1,500.

Two National Guard armories are scheduled to open Dec. 15 to give shelter to some of the homeless, said Warren Johnson, the Salvation Army’s assistant Orange County coordinator.

The shelters, at 612 E. Warner Ave. in Santa Ana and at Brookhurst Street and Valencia Avenue in Fullerton, can hold 125 people each and provide security, food and transportation, Johnson said.

Until the shelters open for the cold weather season, the county’s homeless may suffer through the wet and chilly weather unless they can afford a motel room or stay with a friend, said a spokesman for Orange County’s social service agencies.