La Quinta says city suffered “700 year” storm
On Monday, September 8, the city experienced 3 inches of rainfall within one hour, causing mass flooding, stranded motorists, and great amounts of damaged property. To put in perspective, La Quinta experiences an average annual rainfall of 1-2 inches. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the unusual weather event was classified as a “700 year storm.”
“We have fully mobilized public works crews, enlisted the aid of agencies like Burrtec to assist in debris removal, and have put more resources in the form of hiring private contractors to expedite recovery from this disaster,” said City Manager, Frank Spevacek. Since the rain stopped, the City has been diligently clearing debris, opening arterial roads, and working with other agencies to restore utility services.
Due to the extreme damage, La Quinta’s City Council will be considering a resolution at their next meeting scheduled on Tuesday, September 16, to declare a local emergency. If authorized, the City may receive partial reimbursement for cleanup costs from state and federal agencies.
In addition, the City is asking its residents to go to http://cityoflaquinta.wufoo.com/forms/z1ce28n4120h7gz/ and provide detailed information regarding damages to their homes/property. This information will assist in determining how wide-spread the damages were and will be used in estimating the total destruction amount for potential reimbursement. For those without internet access, please call 760-777-7106.
