By Khalida Sarwari
Three days: at a minimum that’s how long you should be prepared to get by on your own when an emergency or disaster strikes.
In a presentation to the city council last month, Saratoga’s public works director John Cherbone outlined the city’s strategy for surviving a potentially harsh winter.
But, it was Howard Miller, who was still mayor then, who highlighted the bottom line.
“If you can’t see yourself surviving in your home for three days, then you’re not prepared,” Miller said at the Nov. 18 meeting.
To help residents be better prepared over the next few months, Cherbone shared tips on how to get ready for heavy rains and storms and where to find assistance.
“The upcoming winter is forecast to have a strong El Niño influence,” Cherbone said, adding that the last time the region experienced a storm of such magnitude was in 1997. “It was the only event except for the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 which Saratoga needed to activate its [emergency operations center].”
While such a facility hasn’t yet been identified for this El Niño, the city has designated the Joan Pisani Community Center, West Valley College and fire stations as evacuation shelters.
Here are some tips Cherbone offered in the event of heavy rains or storms: turn on the radio or TV to receive flood warning messages from the National Weather Service. The agency will interrupt regular broadcasting to air warning messages to the public.
“All you have to do is turn on your radio,” said Cherbone. “It can be on any channel. They’ll interrupt you and let you know what’s going on.”
In Saratoga, fallen trees, creek bank erosion and landslides are typically among the more severe effects of heavy storms. In the case of landslides, “when it happens on our roads or near a home the repair cost can be in the millions of dollars,” said Cherbone.
Localized street flooding caused by clogged storm drains is also a common issue in Saratoga, said Cherbone. Sandbags, now available at the Saratoga Corporation Yard, 19800 Allendale Ave., can be used to keep water away from properties especially if the driveway and residence are below street grade.
“A line of sandbags across your driveway entrance can really help during a heavy rain,” he said.
For residents who live near waterways, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood zone maps are a great resource in helping determine whether property is in a flood zone and thereby eligible for flood insurance, said Cherbone. The map is available online as well as at the city’s engineering department.
In case of flooding, the best course of action is to stay away from flooded areas that are 6 inches deep or more, whether you’re in a car or on foot.
“If you can’t tell how deep the water is, you should just assume the worst and just stay away,” Cherbone said.
To report flooding issues during normal city business hours, call the city’s maintenance department at 408.868.1245 and county communications after hours at 408.299.2507.
Link: El Niño influence predicted, residents told to prepare for floods
