Storms are brewing in the California and causing flooding to occur in the state. In addition, the National Weather Service is issuing a warning to drivers and residents to stay off the roads. There are also many power outages in the region. PG&E has 5,000 workers working to fix the power outages. Caltrans has also advised drivers to avoid the area.
Los Gatos and Saratoga power outages
Los Gatos and Saratoga are experiencing power outages after California storms. These communities have been hit with rain and heavy wind that prompted the evacuation of several residents. Some roads have been closed, and trees have fallen on power lines.
The National Weather Service says that there is still a chance of more rainfall on Tuesday. The weather service also warned that the storms could cause more flooding and landspouts, affecting some areas of the Bay Area.
In the wake of the storms, the City of Los Gatos has declared a state of emergency. The city has opened warming shelters and reached out to its homeless population. Its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program has been activated, as well.
PG&E has also been affected by the storms. More than 44,000 customers in Northern California are without power. Thousands of workers have been called to the area to restore power.
In addition to the loss of power, several areas are still under flood warnings. Many roads in the South Bay and Peninsula have been closed, and the Bay Point and Pacheco areas have received excessive water from the storm.
As of Saturday night, about 4,100 PG&E crews have been working to repair and restore power. Nearly 25,000 customers in the Bay Area are still without electricity.
The “bomb cyclone” moved across the Bay Area this week, causing widespread flooding and power outages. It was also blamed for the death of a child and 19-year-old woman in North Bay.
Mudslide danger in Montecito
If you live in Montecito, you should be prepared for mudslides this winter. The Pacific is bringing heavy rain to the area. It can also cause mountain runoff. These types of landslides can be lethal.
Montecito is situated between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the risk of debris flows, the area has a history of devastating wildfires. Some of the most recent fires in the area burned in October 2017.
After the Thomas Fire, the city of Montecito received an evacuation order. A mudslide killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes.
A debris basin was set up in Montecito to trap fallen trees. The basin is designed to protect homeowners on the San Ysidro Creek. Unfortunately, the basin is not accessible. However, it can be bypassed by a debris flow.
Montecito had been ravaged by the Thomas Fire, which began in December of 2017. When it reached the mountains, it made the Santa Ynez Mountains more vulnerable to destruction.
Debris can also be carried by storms. During extreme rainfall, huge boulders and trees come surging out of the canyons. Even though the National Weather Service reported eight inches of rain in the last 12 hours, the water did not hold back.
There are two high-profile class action lawsuits in the works in California following the Thomas fire. One is against Pacific Gas & Electric for its failure to maintain vegetation near electrical structures.
Caltrans advises drivers to avoid the area
Caltrans is currently monitoring a potentially dangerous situation in the Montecito area. The organization has issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas of the Carmel River. According to a release, the department has a website with emergency information. It also recommends drivers pack a kit of emergency supplies including water and food in case they get stranded.
One thing that is certain is that roads in the area will be difficult to navigate. Drivers are urged to reduce their speed and use caution. Additionally, they should not underestimate the impact of the rain, which can lead to major delays and power outages.
Several highways in the Bay Area have been closed to traffic as of late, and the weather has been a factor in causing more than 400 power outages. PG&E is working to respond to these outages as quickly as possible. However, a few hundred residents in the Paradise and Rancho Oso neighborhoods remain stranded due to mudslides.
Another wintry blast is expected for late Monday and early Tuesday. Although officials say they will reopen one lane of the northbound 101 by evening, drivers will need to use Atherton Avenue to make it to the freeway.
According to the California Department of Transportation, chain controls are in effect on 29 highways. Chains should be used to avoid accidents and flooding, and drivers should consider an alternate route if they must travel through the area.
National Weather Service warns of flooding
The National Weather Service is warning of flooding in San Francisco and other Bay Area counties. A storm called the “bomb cyclone” brought heavy rain to Northern California Sunday night and into Monday. It caused mudslides, downed power lines, and swells along the coast. Several streets in the region closed due to storm-related obstructions.
Storms are expected to continue throughout the week. Some of the areas affected include Monte Rio, Temelec, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Petaluma.
Streams in the flood warning area are still rising. This is because of earlier rainfall. But, a drier weather system is predicted to arrive Thursday night and early Friday.
There are also a number of swells projected to move into the Pacific coastline during the early morning hours of Friday. This will cause large waves to return west-facing beaches. During the afternoon, there is a chance for more rain.
There are also concerns of flooding in the foothills of the Sacramento-area. The Pajaro River at Chittenden is expected to reach moderate flood stage.
Another Bay Area storm is forecasted for Sunday evening. In addition, heavy rain is bringing down trees, which may cause street flooding. Several areas are under flood warnings, including the San Lorenzo River at Big Trees.
The NWS is urging residents not to drive in flooded roads. It is also advising people to stay updated on the latest forecasts.
Solano County and Fremont issue local emergency proclamations
The Solano County and Fremont, CA may have recently declared their respective state of emergency, but they are not alone in the fraternity of declaring one. There are a few other jurisdictions in the Bay Area that have taken the same tack. Similarly, the State of California has also announced its own e-alert program. A few cities have opted to join the fraternity, including Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond. While the decision may be a hard one, given the fact that all five are part of the San Francisco bay area, the opportunity to collaborate on mitigation efforts is not to be sniffed at.
The Solano County execs have a number of important duties to perform, but the hurricane engulfing the county hasn’t exactly slowed them down. In fact, the county’s best echelon ranked among the best in the nation. As such, the Solano County Medical Center was able to provide some relief to those in need. This was a much needed jolt to the region’s confidence level.
Although the Solano County is not without its flaws, the city’s mayor and his entourage are able to maintain a relatively high degree of public confidence. After all, the city has a population of a stout 40,000. However, the city is still suffering from an influx of homeless individuals – more than the total population of the county. Luckily, Mayor Dave Kosma has the good sense to rethink the situation and bring things back under control.
Pacific Gas & Electric has 5,000 workers in the field to deal with the storm
Pacific Gas and Electric Company crews continue working around the clock to restore power to Northern California. They are preparing to restore service to 190,000 customers, nearly all of whom have been without power for at least one day since the storms hit.
The crews are repairing damaged lines and poles, and replacing those that are weakened by the storm. According to the company, 72% of the affected customers were able to get their power restored within 12 hours.
Crews are expected to continue their work until all customers are restored. PG&E has prepositioned crews in storm-prone areas, and will redeploy them to the hardest areas of damage. Depending on the scope of the affected area, restoration work could continue into Saturday.
PG&E’s online outage map allows customers to search for their specific address. When a customer receives a notification, PG&E will tell them the reason for their outage, and give them an estimated restoration time.
As of Monday, PG&E has compiled the largest response team for a winter storm in its history. More than 5,000 people have been assigned to the task, including more than 2,700 workers and more than 103 line workers. Many of these workers are from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
In addition to the 5,000 employees on the ground, hundreds are serving in PG&E’s regional and divisional emergency centers. PG&E has sent more than 3,000 electric personnel to the field, and hundreds of others are working to deliver the equipment necessary to repair the lines and poles.https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3sY2PRFvkQ
