Power outages, roadway flooding reported in latest storm to hit Valley

5:30 p.m. Update: Cathedral City Police say two major intersections lights are flashing, They include the intersection at Dinah Shore Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive as well as the intersection of Ramon Road and Date Palm Drive. Crews have attempted to repair the traffic signals, but the wires in question are under ground and under water. The traffic signals will remain in Red Flash Mode until at least tomorrow morning. Motorist should utilize alternate routes if possible, such as East Palm Canyon Drive for east and west bound traffic.

Also, flooding has closed one Westbound lane on Vista Chino between Palm Springs and Cathedral City.

(Original Story)

Rain has been falling for several hours in the Coachella Valley, but so far no major road closures to report. There are several power outages across the valley, the largest reported by SCE in Cathedral City that is affecting over 1700 customers.

IID reports two outages in the Coachella area, and one of those outages shut down Coachella City Hall. “We sent home non essential employees at 4 p.m. today as a result of the outage, which affected City Hall,” said Coachella City Manager David Garcia, adding the Imperial Irrigation District could not immediately predict when power would be restored.

Meanwhile, with several days of steady rain predicted in Southern California this week, the County opens the Emergency Operations Center to deal with any storm related problems.

County officials say the Center will be open through Friday, the precaution, in addition to keeping emergency responders on alert, also reminds residents to be serious about preparing for potential El Nino storms in order to protect their families.

“We know our region is at risk for flooding and mudslides even when a storm is not severe, so we want to be ready,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman John J. Benoit. “We are watching areas that have had problems in the past and we want residents to remember that keeping your family safe doesn’t just happen. You must prepare before the heavy rain arrives.”

With the emergency-center activation, representatives from more than a dozen county departments have come together in the County Administrative Center in Riverside to monitor storm activity and be ready to act quickly.

The Transportation Department will to deploy crews around the county based on reports of trouble spots, and monitors low-lying areas and hillsides where flooding and slides have been an issue in the past. The Fire Department will respond in the event of emergencies and can quickly staff specially trained water rescue teams. Sand and sand bags have been strategically located at fire stations around the county for public use.

The new Emergency Management Department monitors conditions countywide and coordinates with other county departments and with cities to make up-to-date information available on conditions countywide.

“The county has been working with cities, special districts and tribal partners to prepare for El Nio,” said Kimberly Saruwatari, director of the department. “I urge all our residents to be prepared, as well, to keep their families safe.”

The National Weather Service anticipates showers, sometimes with heavy rainfall, in parts of Riverside County this week. Storm concerns are common in Riverside County. A flash flood five months ago washed out a bridge on I-10 in Desert Center and a year ago, a flash flood in the San Jacinto Valley caused mudslides and inundated vehicles.

The Emergency Management Department urges residents to:
* Be aware about flood hazards near your home
* Keep a list of out-of-state family contacts handy
* Plan escape routes in case your neighborhood floods
* Prepare a stock of food, water, batteries and other necessities in advance
* Monitor radio and TV news closely for information about weather conditions and local flooding
* Stay away from flood channels and flowing water
* NEVER try to cross flooded areas in your vehicle. Turn Around-Don’t Drown.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to use the preparation tips and information on the www.RivCoReady.org