Re: Thousands Remain Without Power, Dozens Of Roads Closed, Hail And Land Spouts Still Possible

[California Hypocrisy]

In article <s9j0li$52u$1...@neodome.net>
governo...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> But but ban gas automobiles.
>

More than 66,000 L.A. customers remained without power as of 10
a.m. Saturday — the most recent update — as city crews continue
to work to repair damage caused by a major winter storm that has
battered the region in recent days.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials said the
peak of outages for the city came overnight, when as many as
78,000 customers were without electricity.

As of 5:30 p.m. Saturday an additional 13,000 Southern
California Edison customers were without power, nearly 10,000 in
L.A. County.

Downed power lines due to the high winds and rain remain a
serious danger. Authorities say you should call 911 and avoid
the area if you see power lines on the ground.

“Our crews are the best at what they do and will work around the
clock until every customer has power restored," said Brian
Wilbur, a senior manager with LADWP, in a statement released
Saturday. At the same time, they're cautioning restoring power
could take as long as 24 to 48 hours as crews deal with clearing
trees.

Latest on the storm

Shortly before 5 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a
"special weather statement" warning that "small hail, gusty
outflow winds and landspouts are possible with the storm." That
specific warning was for the Norwalk, Compton, Downey area and
lasted until 5:45 p.m.

L.A. County lifeguards closed all county beaches for several
hours after lightning strikes in the area, the first of hit
about 12:20 p.m. The concern was that and additional strikes may
take place through early afternoon. They were reopned about 3:30
p.m. Saturday.

Conditions remain treacherous, so please be careful out there.

L.A. Fire Dept. officials said two men stranded on different dry
land areas surrounded by rising water at Hansen Dam were hoisted
to safety by helicopter Saturday morning.

Another man was also pulled to safety in Sunland in the Tujunga
Wash. Fire officials said the man, 61, told them he'd left his
van after becoming stranded by water about midnight. He was
spotted Saturday morning by a passerby. Officials said he is
being treated for hypothermia.

Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service,
says the heaviest rainfall is behind us.

"And so the overall flood risk is decreasing, but it's not
completely zero," Cohen said, "especially in areas that got the
most heavy rain last night into this morning."

Overall, the region has seen anywhere from 3 inches of rain to
almost 8 inches in parts of the foothills and valleys. Snow in
the mountains is a different story, with Mountain High reporting
close to 65 inches of snow since the storm moved in.

The weather service says we're expecting another 0.5 to 1 inch
of rain at lower elevations through Saturday afternoon. A
blizzard warning remains in effect in the mountains which saw
gusts as high as 80 mph overnight.


Road closures
Caltrans reported a small mudslide had Topanga Canyon Boulevard
(SR-27) shut down from PCH to Grand View Drive.

Travel north of the L.A.-area remains difficult, with sporadic
closures of the I-5 in the Tejon Pass/Grapevine area. After
escorting cars through the pass Friday night, California Highway
Patrol officials said early Saturday it was closed again.

In the Antelope Valley, Caltrans closed a 20-mile stretch of SR-
14 for much of the day between Sand Canyon Road and Avenue S.
They reopened the road to escort vehicles through the area
shortly before 2 p.m.


In Orange County, Pacific Coast Highway is closed in Huntington
Beach area in both directions from Seapoint Street to Warner
Avenue because of flooding. Angela Davis, a spokesperson for
CalTrans District 12, said there's no estimate on when it'll
open back up.

There have also been warnings about poor driving conditions in
areas that don't typically see snow.


Activities and events postponed
Conditions are concerning enough that Saturday's season opener
between the LA Galaxy and the LA Football Club has been
postponed due to the weather. That highly anticipated game was
rescheduled to July 4 at the Rose Bowl.

For those looking to go outside, you may have to wait until
Sunday. L.A. County has closed parks and trails across the
region.


Stay away from the beaches, too. The LA County Department of
Public Health has issued an advisory through Sunday at 10:30
a.m. to stay out of the ocean, creeks and rivers.

A statement from Dr. Muntu Davis, the L.A. County Health
Officer, says "bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash, and other
public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas are
likely to contaminate ocean waters at and around discharging
storm drains, creeks, and rivers after a rainfall. Individuals
who enter the water in these areas could become ill."

In the mountains, Mount Baldy Resort expects to be open for
skiing, but only for season pass and reserved ticket holders.


Think twice before you hit the road, though — conditions in the
mountains will be treacherous.

Read more: Why Skiiers And Snowboarders Itching To Get A Taste
Of All That Fresh Powder May Want To Stay Home

More on road closures and driving conditions
Keep in mind:

Chains are now required for travel along State Routes 2, 18, 38
and 138.
There are road closures all over the region, including several
in San Bernardino County.
State Route 33 remains closed up from Matilija Hot Springs Rd to
Ozena Fire Station in Ojai. (Note: This area has been closed
since January because of the storms. It's a popular route for
people heading to see snow in the mountains, but don't try to
use it right now.)
Parts of PCH in Orange County are also closed due to flooding,
according to the National Weather Service
Both Caltrans and the L.A. County Department of Public Works
have road closures and conditions listed on their sites. Please
check these links for the most up-to-date information.

A note to drivers on our roads
Check your tire treads and pressure before hitting rain-slicked
roads.
Know that middays can be the most dangerous.
Plan ahead, check road conditions, and give yourself plenty of
time.
Turn on your headlights.
Slow down!
If you do end up skidding, don't panic.
Don't drive through standing water — just 12 inches of rushing
water can carry away most cars, and two feet can carry away SUVs
and trucks.
Pay attention
We have more detailed guidance: Your Guide To Driving Safely In
The Rain In LA (And Really Anywhere).

What to know about flood watch/warnings
A flash flood watch is in effect for the mountains above Los
Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara through Saturday afternoon.

Here's an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings:

Flood advisories are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The
goal is to give people enough time to take action.
Flood watches are your indicators to get prepared to move.
A flood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is
imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area,
you need to get to higher ground immediately.
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is coming or
in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can
start within minutes.
Read more: Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need
To Know

A tornado touched down this week
Around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the historic storm spun up a
small, short-lived tornado in La Mirada, according to the NWS.
There, it took down a handful of trees. No injuries were
reported.


During strong winter storms it's not uncommon for waterspouts to
form off the coast. It's hard to catch a gander of the strong
funnels of gusty air that stretch from the cloud base to the
water because they don't usually last very long. But when they
do they can make their way inland, where they're immediately
classified as landspouts or tornadoes.

The ones we get here usually produce gusts of 50 to 60 mph and
are concentrated to areas of 50 feet or less, according to the
NWS. They can cause localized damage.

What the L.A. River looks and sounds like
L.A. River in storm
Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Evacuation warnings have been issued
With risks of mudslides as the rain intensifies, evacuation
warnings have been issued in part of Los Angeles and Ventura
counties.

In L.A. County, evacuation warnings have been issued for
unincorporated areas near the Lake Fire and north end of the
Bobcat Fire burn scars due to the potential for mud or debris
flows. Those warnings are effective from Thursday at 6 p.m.
through Sunday, Feb. 26 at 6 a.m.

Ventura County has put evacuation warnings in place from 3 p.m.
Thursday through 10 a.m. Saturday. Debris flows are often of
concern in the area during heavy rain events, especially in
recently burned areas.


Where mudslides are a concern
A map of Southern California has large red dots over largely
mountainous areas, indicated high concern about debris flow.
There are also smaller white and yellow circles.
A map shows areas of concern for debris flow. Click to see an
interactive version.
(Courtesy USGS)
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is
anticipating debris flows in some recently burned areas through
Sunday, including near the:

Land fire burn scar in La Tuna Canyon
Fish fire burn scar in Duarte
Grandview fire burn scar in Glendale
Ranch2 fire burn scar in Mountain Cove
Bobcat fire burn scar in Monrovia, Juniper Hills, Devil’s
Punchbowl, and Valyermo
Lake fire burn scar in Lake Hughes
Tujunga fire burn scar in Sunland-Tujunga
Soledad fire burn scar in Agua Dulce
Equestrian fire burn scar in Castaic
How to respond to the storm
The L.A. Fire Department shared tips with us on everything from
good weather alert apps to download to what you can do to get
your house ready — and where you can pick up sandbags.

Read more: A Storm Is Coming. LA Fire Officials Have These Tips
On Getting Ready Now

What's next
There’s another storm anticipated this coming week after a short
break in the weather Sunday.

Where to find winter shelters in L.A. and Orange counties
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is offering over 500
motel vouchers for the unhoused population due to the severe
weather. For a referral to the site closest to you, call 211.

"Not only will 211 tell you where to go, but they can arrange
transportation either through a LAHSA outreach team or other
means to ensure that that person gets to a safe bed tonight,"
said Ahmad Chapman, LAHSA's communications director.

Outreach workers have been visiting encampments near rivers and
creeks, offering sleeping bags and tents, and showing people
where to seek higher ground if they don't want access to the
winter shelter programs, as well.

Here are the other shelter sites throughout Los Angeles County:


[View the document here if it doesn't load above for you: L.A.
County winter shelters]

Shelters have been in demand.

On Wednesday night in Orange County, the Cold Weather Emergency
Shelter reached full occupancy for the first time, with 90
individuals experiencing homelessness staying the night. The
shelter provides meals and showers, and transportation to the
shelter is available.

It's a fairly recent addition to the area. OC officials didn't
open the shelter until Feb. 1, even though storms have been
battering California residents for months.

The California Office of Emergency Services has posted a list of
warming centers throughout the state.

<https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/forecasters-say-the-
heaviest-rain-is-behind-us-but-power-outages-and-closed-roads-
are-still-very-much-here>