With what looks to be an ominous and potentially deadly storm approaching, Bay Area agencies were issuing warnings to residents about the dangerous weather that’s expected to strike Wednesday — and the serious threats to life that it will bring.
In a forceful and striking bulletin posted Monday evening, the National Weather Service listed a litany of potential impacts from the “brutal system,” including flooding, road washouts, landslides, fallen trees, power outages and more, culminating in the “likely loss of human life.”
The NWS didn’t back down Tuesday, instead informing Bay Area locals on tips to stay safe amid the troubling conditions that were expected Wednesday and Thursday. Residents were advised to make sure their tires were properly inflated (a common cold-weather concern), that vehicles were full of gas in case of evacuation, and that phones were fully charged and signed up for emergency alerts that might provide notice of fast-moving conditions and public safety bulletins.
“We’re trying to get people to really take heed,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Walbrun, “trying to empower people to take care of themselves to ease the burden on first responders.”
High Wind Watch has been upgraded to High Wind Warning from 4 am Weds through 10 am Thursday.https://t.co/qtuTeJpnS5
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) January 3, 2023
High winds reaching up to 40 mph and gusting up to 60 mph could bring the brunt of the damage, according to the NWS, and prompted a high wind warning set to last from 4 a.m. Wednesday until 10 a.m. Thursday for the greater Bay Area region and the Central Coast. Trees sitting in saturated, pliable soil could topple from the wind, falling into homes and power lines, potentially knocking out power for homes throughout the region.
Aldo Gonzalez, a division chief for Cal Fire, told Bay Area News Group that the previous weekend’s storm brought over 500 calls from people with flooded homes and those who needed rescue and evacuation. He estimated that about 85% of those calls were preventable with proper preparation for a storm of this magnitude.
“Most of it is common sense,” he said. “People need to use their heads and have a little afterthought … If you look at the history of the last storm, which was a couple of days ago and you push it forward to what’s going to happen in the next couple of days, or what should happen, it’s better to be prepared and ready and out of the area if you’re in a flood zone.”
As for common sense, Gonzalez says placing sandbags around homes, getting to high ground, having “go bags” and places to stay are simple ways to prevent dangerous situations from arising during the storm. A “go bag” refers to an emergency kit, already packed for travel, containing essential items that residents may need, including medication, food, water, and clothing.
“Don’t wait till the last minute,” he said. “We’re better than that.”
California Highway Patrol Officer Ross Lee advised drivers to take extra precaution as visibility can be low in intense storms. Drivers are always advised not to steer their vehicles through flooded intersections or other roadways, as waters may often be deeper than people realize.
Let’s be prepared for heavy rain. ☑️
Visit the City’s Storm Preparedness webpage for storm safety tips and resources – https://t.co/iLunVp6o1E pic.twitter.com/r5DZcqYPm1
— City of San José (@CityofSanJose) January 3, 2023
“We’re advising people to remember to slow down, primarily,” Lee said. “Make sure your vehicle is in proper functioning and working condition. That includes tires, lights and windshield wipers.”
Lee said there weren’t any particular strips of highway that the CHP expects to flood, but drivers should be prepared for any situation.Source: www.mercurynews.com