By EVE HIGHTOWER , ehightower@modbee.com
Last updated: January 03, 2008 03:14:31
PM
Officials are gearing up for a
hefty series of storms, the first of which is expected to roll in
tonight.
While there is little chance of flooding in the Northern San
Joaquin Valley, according to irrigation district spokeswomen, state and federal
officials are concerned about Southern California and high elevation
areas.
The fires burned away acres of vegetations that would
normally help hold together soil saturated by heavy rain, so burned areas are
flood and mudslide prone, said Frank McCarton, chief deputy director of the
state Office of Emergency Services.
Mountain areas will be seeing heavy snow that will build
because the storms are wet and cold, with wind up to 150 mph.
"It'll be blizzard-like conditions," McCarton
said.
In the valley, folks have started piling sandbags in
flood-prone areas, such as homes backed up against Dry Creek in Modesto's La
Loma neighborhood.
City employees had filled 5,000 sandbags by noon today and
expected to continue the effort the rest of the day and Friday, said Ron
Shriver, Modesto's street supervisor.
If there is flooding, it is expected to be light and
localized, according to Modesto and Turlock irrigation district spokeswomen.
This week's storms follow a dry autumn and winter, so there is plenty of room in
Don Pedro Dam to store the water that comes toward the valley out of the
foothills.
Still, officials agree that heavy winds could interrupt
power supplies, so people are advised to prepare for that.
The governor's office today issued the following
recommendations:
Prepare or update your family emergency plans and make sure
loved ones know the plan.
Identify a meeting place outside your
neighborhood.
Make sure family members know where to go to re-unite if
you're separated.
Make arrangements for your pets before the watch or
warning.
Listen to the radio, watch television or monitor the
Internet for the latest weather information and instructions from local
officials.
Update emergency supply kits by including:
Drinking water
Food for your family
Battery-operated flashlights and radios
First aid kit and book
Warming clothing
Learn the difference between flash flood watches and flash
flood warnings.
Teach your children to avoid creeks, canyons, drainage
control channels and washes at all times.
Drive only when necessary.
Meet with your neighbors to discuss their plans and how you
can help one another.
Contact county flood control personnel and other experts to
learn what actions you can take, including sandbagging, to protect your property
from small mudflows
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