Southern California Prepares for More Rain: City Crews Maintain Flood Control Measures

Post-Storm Preparations in Southern California

• 🌧️ Public works crews are maintaining K-rails and other preventative measures in Southern California following a recent storm.
• 💡 This preparation is in anticipation of more wet weather expected to arrive on Thursday.

Burn Scar Stability and Debris Management

• ⛰️ In Altadena, crews are clearing sandy debris that trickled down hillsides after the first significant storm.
• ⚠️ Residents, like Lee James who returned home after a fire, are contending with the possibility of mudflow.
• 🚧 The City of Pasadena reports that sandbags and K-rails have been effective in combating major slides in burn scar areas.

Storm Impacts and Warnings

• 🚗 In Malibu, hillsides gave way, sending boulders onto Malibu Canyon Road and damaging cars, with some drivers experiencing flat tires from sharp rocks.
• 🌊 LA County is urging people to avoid swimming in the ocean, especially near storm drains, due to runoff carrying bacteria.

Understanding Post-Fire Debris Flows

• 🔬 Mathieu Thomas from the USGS explains that post-fire debris flows are common in severely burned areas.
• ⚡ He emphasizes that there is virtually no lag time between intense rainfall and debris flow, highlighting the importance of advanced preparation.
• ⏳ Areas are susceptible to slides for about a year, sometimes up to two years, after a major fire.