Residents urged to prepare for rain

PALMDALE – A series of storms this week will bring periods of heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a flash flood watch from Tuesday to Thursday. Forecasters say the storms are part of the El Nino effect, resulting from a warming of Pacific waters. [View a detailed weather forecast for the Antelope Valley here.]

Palmdale city officials are urging residents to be prepared.

Sandbags are available for residents free of charge at the city’s Maintenance Yard, located at 39110 3rd Street East. The sandbags are available Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Residents are also encouraged to stay informed.

“A good resource for storm information and tips is the Web site www.lacounty.gov/elnino,” said Palmdale Communications Manager John Mlynar. “It provides storm-related resources including safety tips, weather forecasts, and information for homeowners affected by floods and mudslides. Additionally, visitors can find info guides, PSAs, and a dedicated Twitter feed of first responder agencies tweeting about this year’s storms. It is mobile-friendly and can be instantly translated into 90 languages.”

Palmdale’s Public Works crews began their preparations for the winter season in October.  Among the steps taken included:

• Inspecting all storm basins and flood channels. Making sure they are clean, free of debris and functioning.
• Making sandbags.
• Putting snow plows on trucks.
• Budgeting.
• Arranging for contractors.
• Inspecting sewers.

“We always encourage our residents to prepare for emergencies as we live in an area that is susceptible to earthquakes, fires and floods,” Mlynar said. “In a major disaster it may be several days before help arrives. Residents should set aside enough food, water and other necessities to ‘shelter in place’ for a minimum of three days.”

Other resources for disaster preparedness include www.ready.gov, www.antelopevalleycert.com, and www.redcross.org/ca/los-angeles.

[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale with additional information from City News Service.]

–