Rainstorm Prompts Safety Tips and Reminders – Sandbags Available

With the first heavy rain of 2014 expected later this week for Southern California, the City of Pasadena offers residents and businesses the following wet weather tips and reminders.

The Pasadena Fire Department, www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire, has free sand and sandbags at two fire stations, Station 37, 3430 E. Foothill Blvd., and Station 38, 1150 Linda Vista Ave. The sand and sandbags are available free to Pasadena residents for non-commercial purposes and are self-service.

Remember, it is best to have sandbags in place for flood-prone areas of your residential property before you need them. During a serious storm, remember to call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies, including significant flooding. National Weather Service information for the Los Angeles area is online at www.weather.gov/losangeles.

Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/disaster for emergency preparedness information. If you are not part of Pasadena’s Local Emergency Alert System (PLEAS), sign up for the telephone notification system today by visiting www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS.

Pasadena residents and businesses with any power emergencies should call the Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) Department at (626) 744-4673 and for water-related emergencies call (626) 744-4138. PWP customers are also encouraged to sign up for specific emergency utility alerts by visiting www.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/oms/.

The public is also reminded to:
• Clear debris and overgrowth from drainage channels and rain gutters before it rains
• Keep cars charged or with full gas tanks; power outages might shut down gas pumps or charging stations
• Stay away from storm drain channels and do not attempt to cross flooded roads
• Never touch any downed utility lines; call 9-1-1 to report
• Keep your disaster kit updated with flashlight and extra batteries; portable battery-operated radio; first aid kit and manual; emergency food and water for your family and pets; non-electric can opener; essential medications; sturdy shoes, socks & gloves; essential paperwork & emergency cash, and comfort items for children
• Make sure your vehicles are in good repair; especially windshield wipers
• Slow down while driving in the rain; allow extra travel time and use caution while braking and turning as grease and oil have built up on roadways with lack of rain, making for slippery conditions in wet weather
• Remember to turn off sprinklers, system controllers and timers as it is prohibited to irrigate landscaping during rainy periods
• Use rain barrels to collect and reuse rain water

Even with this storm, California remains in drought conditions. For more water conservation tips visit www.PWPweb.com/SaveWater. For statewide drought information visit www.saveourH2o.org.

For more information about the City of Pasadena, visit www.cityofpasadena.net, follow us on Twitter@PasadenaGov, or call the Citizen Service Center, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (626) 744-7311.