By Anna Buss
Pasadena and other local fire departments are providing tips and reminders during the first heavy rainfall of 2014. Though the showers should bring some relief to the worst state drought in history, commuters and residents may experience problems throughout Southern California.
Experts are predicting that as much as an inch of rain should fall in some areas between Wednesday and Saturday. As a result, firefighters warn the roads will be extremely slick, some streets may flood and other weather conditions may be disruptive to residents. Officials with the Pasadena Fire Department warn residents to prepare with the following tips:
– Clear debris and overgrowth from drainage channels and rain gutters before it rains;
– Keep cars charged or with full gas tanks; power outages might shut down gas pumps or charging stations;
– Stay away from storm drain channels and do not attempt to cross flooded roads;
– Never touch any downed utility lines; call 9-1-1 to report;
– Keep your disaster kit updated with flashlight and extra batteries; portable battery-operated radio; first aid kit and manual; emergency food and water for your family and pets; non-electric can opener; essential medications; sturdy shoes, socks & gloves; essential paperwork & emergency cash, and comfort items for children;
– Make sure your vehicles are in good repair; especially windshield wipers;
– Slow down while driving in the rain; allow extra travel time and use caution while braking and turning as grease and oil have built up on roadways with lack of rain, making for slippery conditions in wet weather;
– Remember to turn off sprinklers, system controllers and timers as it is prohibited to irrigate landscaping during rainy periods;
– Use rain barrels to collect and reuse rain water.
Pasadena residents who live in flood-prone areas may pick up free sand and sandbags at two fire stations, Station 37, 3430 E. Foothill Blvd., and Station 38, 1150 Linda Vista Ave. The sandbags are for non-commercial purposes and are self-service.
With the expected weather changes, the City of Glendora’s emergency services updated the Alert Status for the Colby Fire Impact Area to YELLOW on Monday. This means that people living in the fire-affected areas should prepare for severe flooding and debris flow problems during and after each rainfall.
Officials say the Los Angeles County Flood Control District has mapped and designated all properties north of Sierra Madre between the western city boundaries of Azusa/Glendora to the eastern boundary of properties on the western side of the Little Dalton Wash as having the highest risk of being impacted by flooding and debris flows from rainfall due to the loss of vegetation in the foothills.
The potential impact means residents can expect some parking restrictions to go into effect, including orders to remove vehicles, trash bins, and other obstructions from the street.
Firefighters also remind residents to call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies, including significant flooding during a serious storm.
For emergency preparedness information Pasadena residents can visit www.cityofpasadena.net/disaster. Firefighters encourage people to sign up for Pasadena’s Local Emergency Alert System (PLEAS) to receive telephone notifications by visiting www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS.
Pasadena residents and businesses with any power emergencies should call Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) at (626) 744-4673 and for water-related emergencies call (626) 744-4138. PWP customers are also encouraged to sign up for specific emergency utility alerts by visiting www.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/oms/.
National Weather Service information for the Los Angeles area is online at www.weather.gov/losangeles.
For more water conservation tips visit www.PWPweb.com/SaveWater. For statewide drought information visit www.saveourH2o.org.