Local crews make preparations ahead of storm set to hit the Coachella Valley on Thursday
Local city and county officials are making sure the Coachella Valley is ready for a storm that is set to bring rain and possible flooding to the valley.
A First Alert Weather Alert will be in place for Thursday and Friday as an atmospheric river approaches California. Moderate to heavy rain is possible during this time with concerns of street and wash flooding.
Rain is likely to arrive by midday Thursday, and could be heavy at times as the front moves through the region.
Shane Reichardt, with the Riverside County’s Emergency Management Department (EMD), says his team is keeping a close eye on the radar ahead of the storm. Two county weather briefings were held on Tuesday to discuss steps that need to be taken to prepare. In the first briefing, Reichardt and county officials discussed having additional staff on standby Thursday for hard-hit communities. They also discussed possible road closures and a wireless emergency alert for areas known to have issues with unhoused residents on waterways. Those alerts will go out on Wednesday.
In the second briefing, County officials spoke with California Operations of Emergency Services about the storm. Reichardt says both the county emergency management agencies and Cal OES are monitoring the weather statewide.
Local cities like Cathedral City are also prepping to prevent flooding and debris build up should the rain be significant.
Ryan Hunt, the Cathedral City communications and event manager, tells News Channel Three that Cathedral City's Public Works crews are cleaning the drains and doing regular maintenance. It something he says they’ve been doing before every weather event for the past few years. He also says crews will be ready to go if significant rain arrives in the Valley.
Riverside County 4th District Supervisor Manuel Perez is warning residents to prepare at home. His office is learning from storms in the past, like Tropical Storm Hilary, to prepare for later this week.
"People should get their residences, ready," Perez said. "That includes draining the gutters. Clean out the gutters and the drains and clear debris if possible.”
He also recommends families make an emergency plan.
"Have emergency contact information and have a way to evacuate," said Perez. "Have an emergency kit to sustain yourself, your family, and your pets as well, at least up to three to seven days or more more than anything up to seven days.”
You can also pick up sand bags at local fire stations if you need some. Typically, stations limit sandbags to 10-per person.
For more information on how to protect your family and prepare in emergency situations, head to https://rivcoready.org/
Stay with News Channel Three for more updates on storm prep this week.
