December 20, 2023 - Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County officials report that as the first significant storm of the winter season approaches, Los Angeles County is collaborating with agencies across the region to protect the public from flood danger, and to capture as much stormwater as possible to become future drinking water.
“LA County is prepared to keep our communities and our roadways safe as a wet weather event and the holidays draw near. There are important precautions the public can take to stay safe, including driving slowly, avoiding flooded areas, and always staying informed," said Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. "We are also prepared to capture and conserve stormwater to increase our local water supply for drinking water and other essential uses to support our goal of increasing our local water supply by 80% by 2045.”
Residents are urged to know their property's risk factors, clear drainage paths near homes and other structures, and call the Public Works 24-hour Dispatch Center to report storm-related damage, traffic signal outages, or flooding, and to get information on sandbags at 1-800-675-HELP (4357).
Other wet weather tips include:
- Heed all instructions from emergency responders and emergency alert notifications.
- Drive cautiously and slow down – many roadways will be wet and slippery.
- Do not attempt to cross flooded areas and never enter moving water.
- As little as six inches of water can knock over and carry away an adult and 18-24 inches of water can carry away most large SUVs, vans, and trucks. Follow the advice: “Turn around, don’t drown!”
For additional tips and resources on how to prepare for storm season, visit ready.lacounty.gov. Please visit alert.lacounty.gov to register for emergency alerts. For a list of locations offering sandbags throughout Los Angeles County, see this resource.
Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
