Crime & Safety
Storm Warnings Ramped Up: Cal Fire Offers Sandbags to Residents In and Near Silver-Mountain Burn Areas
'Rainfall rates are likely to exceed the ability of the ground to absorb the rain . . . and recently burned areas not only from this year but also 2012 and 2011 are likely to have debris flows,' a flash flood watch states.
A storm system laden with tropical moisture could arrive Sunday with potential to pound the Silver Fire and Mountain Fire burn areas hard enough to unleash damaging debris flows, according to the National Weather Service.
A flash flood watch was issued Friday afternoon for a period from early Sunday Aug. 25 to Monday evening Aug. 26, and Cal Fire-Riverside County officials followed with an announcement that sandbags will be made available for vulnerable residents at fire stations in the San Jacinto Mountains and in Lake Elsinore near the Falls Fire burn.
"Models are coming into agreement on handling and track of the remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Ivo after it decays in 48 hours or less," the Weather Service advised.
"Storm rainfall totals are currently forecast to range from two thirds of an inch over the desert floors to two inches along the desert slopes of the mountains. Rainfall rates are likely to exceed the ability of the ground to absorb the rain . . . and recently burned areas not only from this year but also 2012 and 2011 are likely to have debris flows."
Here is the release from Cal Fire-Riverside County officials, who coordinated Friday with the county Office of Emergency Services:
"In preparation for a strong storm that has been forecasted to bring heavy rain to Riverside County this weekend, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire firefighters are offering free sand and sandbags for residents in the recent burn areas to aid in flooding prevention efforts.
"Affected residents are free to pick up supplies on Saturday, August 24th, 8 a.m. at the Lakeland Village Fire Station #11 located at 33020 Maiden Lane, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 and the Garner Valley Fire Station #53 located at 59200 Morris Ranch Road, Mountain Center, CA 92561. Residents will be required to fill their own sandbags.
"CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department wants to remind residents not to drive through flooded areas. If you come across a flooded area while driving, stop, turn the car around and take another route. Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related. Personal safety should always be the number one priority.
"Additionally, please call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.
"For more information on flood preparation and flood safety, please visit our website at http://www.rvcfire.org/ onLineServices/Safety/Pages/Neighborhood-Safety.aspx."
Post-fire erosion and flash floods can be deadly as well as destructive. Whatever unfolds depends on forecast accuracy and other variables, including storm cell locations, movement and rain intensities relative to burn area slopes and watershed volumes.
See Banning-Beaumont Patch and Palm Desert Patch for more on Tropical Storm Ivo reported earlier today.
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