Southern California made it through the first round of rain on February 1, but another set of storms is expected to hit the area next week.
The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is working around the clock to lead the response effort as we endure the next round of potentially dangerous storms.
Experts are concerned about the amount of rain coming in on top of what Southern California received on February 1. Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara County could see the biggest impacts.
This storm could bring runoff and flooding down the coasts and in the foothills, with those areas potentially seeing 2 to 4 inches of rain, said Alex Tardy, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in San Diego.
“The difference with this coming storm, and one thing for everyone to keep in mind, is preparation,” Tardy said. “You know how much is coming in and where we are going to have problems. This is going to be a slow-duration storm.”
CalOES is prepared and has prepositioned resources throughout the state that are being used and at the ready.
As the clouds break up a little, this weekend is a good time to prepare yourself and your home for incoming weather.
- Sign up for alerts in your county.
- Have a plan.
- Pack a go back with essential items for all the members in your family.
- Make sure the debris is removed from gutters and drains so water can freely flow into the street
- Acquire and prepare sandbags, if possible.
- Avoid flooded areas, and if you are caught in the storm go to higher ground.
- Avoid any non- essential travel.
Additional Resources:
- Listos California Disaster Ready Guide
- Tips for Staying Safe in Severe Storms
- Power Outage Tips
- Generator Safety
- Food Safety in a Power Outage
- QuickMap
- CalAlerts.org