The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Los Angeles County through Saturday evening. The second of the two storms is expected to be the strongest starting late Thursday night through Saturday evening. Rainfall estimates suggest that this could be the strongest storm the area has seen in three years (March 2011). To help you and your family prepare for this winter storm, we suggest the following:
"Early" Spring Cleaning- Ensure your rain gutters are free of debris and other materials;
Safe and Secure- Brace any outside furniture or equipment as high winds may cause items to fall over;
Stay Alert and Informed- If you live on or near a hillside, be aware of your surroundings. Heavy rain may cause flash flooding or hillsides to give. Tune in to NOAA weather radio or your local news outlets. You can also track the storm and see issued advisories by visiting the National Weather Service at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/ ;
Have the Talk- Communicate with your family. Have a plan if you need to evacuate or cannot get back to your neighborhood in the event of flooding or traffic congestion. Where will you go?
Don't Run on Empty- Ensure you have a half a tank of gas in your car in the event you need to evacuate or get stranded. Heavy rains and winds could result in power outages and gas stations may not be operable.
Remember Your Pets- Do not leave animals outside in the rain or overnight. Temperature drops are expected and heavy downpours could result in thunderstorms and hail.
Be a Good Neighbor- Look out for neighbors who are elderly or live alone. Have a plan to check in on them throughout the weekend.
Have a "Staycation!"- If you don't need to be out driving around, stay indoors. Now is a great time to take an inventory and rotate through your disaster food cache and replenish with new items! Also a great time to check your flashlights
For more information on how you can prepare for disasters visit us at http://www.torranceca.gov/DisasterPreparedness.htm
Forwarded By:
City of Torrance
Office of Emergency Services
310-618-5670
www.Police.TorranceCA.Gov
www.YouTube.com/TPDCommAffairs
www.Facebook.com/TorrancePD
www.Twitter.com/TorrancePD
Mark Matsuda
Interim Chief of Police
City of Torrance, Police Department
