Prepare for Potential Big Rainy Event in December

Last winter, San Diego County saw above-normal rainfall throughout the county. What can we expect this winter season and further out?

The National Weather Service wants us to be a “Weather Ready Nation.” So, meteorologists based in the Rancho Bernardo office talked to city and county representatives including firefighters and law enforcement this week to prepare them for weather-related hazards this season.

First of all, you may have already heard, we are experiencing a weak to moderate La Nina weather event which generally means less rain here in San Diego and more in other regions like the Pacific Northwest. However, forecasters pointed out that last year we actually had more rain than usual and it was also a La Nina event. This year, they are comparing models that show what has occurred historically in San Diego during years when there have been consecutive La Nina events to predict the winter outlook.

Alex Tardy, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said that just because the season started off wet in November, it doesn’t mean that it will continue. Data seems to show there will be an average season for rainfall, but we can still have some big storms that would impact the county in December or January.

“There’s still a threat of a big rainfall event this season,” Tardy said. “These types of scenarios are more common in a weak La Nina or neutral event.”

Tardy explained that one 4- to 10-day period of intermittent heavy rainfall is all it would take to cause significant flooding and hazards in the county.

Temperatures are expected to be cooler than normal this winter with increased chances of frost or freeze in December through mid February. Low snow levels are also predicted during several storms.

After one or possibly two heavy rainfall events this winter and a few smaller storms, it is likely that February through March will be drier than normal.

“We’re not out of the woods with wildfires,” Tardy said. “If we enter into the predicted dry weather, an early fire season could be in the making this spring.”

If this prediction holds true, the seasonal grasses and plants that come up after the rains could quickly dry up and become fuel for wildfires.

While Tardy offered the long-range outlook for first responders, he said the public can also take this information and prepare at home.

• Residents can get sandbags if flooding typically occurs in your area.
• Clean out storm drains on your property.
• Never cross a flooded intersection or stream in a vehicle or on foot. The water may be deeper or moving faster than it appears.
• Keep up with the yard work this spring by clearing away dead and dry vegetation before it becomes a hazard.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Moede also provided the city and county with an overview of resources for weather information starting with their redesigned web site at weather.gov/sandiego. The site was reorganized to be more user-friendly and has new front page features. It retains a “point and click” interface meaning people can click anywhere on the map and get current weather conditions and a forecast for that point. The site also offers a “Weather Story” thumbnail for quick updates, headlines that quickly state the latest news, and popular links in a new toolbar tab menu.

Chula Vista emergency services coordinator Tom Leonard, who attended the meeting, said the forecast information and online tools are a great resource for the region.

“If we have a weather event, it’s more helpful to get fast information for my city,” Leonard said.

ShakeOut for Earthquake Preparedness

Does everyone in your family know what to do during an earthquake to reduce the chance of injuries? When was the last time you rehearsed your family emergency plan? Have you participated in a work earthquake drill? Emergency preparedness experts say it is not only important to have an emergency plan but to practice it, so it becomes an instinctual response.

“The Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill is a great opportunity to hold a drill at home and work,” said Herman Reddick, County Office of Emergency Services interim director. “We encourage County employees to get earthquake ready.”

Statewide, participants will Drop, Cover and Hold On at 10:20 a.m. on 10/20. However, the point of the exercise is to promote earthquake preparedness, so San Diegans are encouraged to participate even if they hold the drill at an alternate time or another day.

The safest response is Drop, Cover and Hold On. What that means is dropping to the floor when you feel shaking, and going underneath a table or desk, covering your head with one arm and holding onto the furniture with the other arm to keep it from moving during the shaking.

The ultimate goal is to protect your head. When scientists studied earthquakes in the United States, they found that most people were injured or killed by items falling over onto them. This is why people are safest under a table or desk.

If there are no tables or desks, the next best advice is to find an interior wall away from any heavy furniture, windows or fixtures. Slide down with your back against the wall and use your arms to cover your head.

If you are indoors, it is best to stay indoors; otherwise you may be hurt by falling items as you try to run outside. You may also be hurt by falling debris outdoors or may encounter downed wires. 

If you are already outdoors, then the safest thing is to try to get to a clear area, away from buildings, trees, or utility wires. Then, just sit down and cover your head.  Essentially, the same advice applies to driving. Try to pull over to a clear area away from bridges or overpasses, and wait it out in your vehicle.

Earthquakes can’t be predicted. That’s why people are urged to be prepared to survive and recover after a major earthquake. San Diego County, like most of California, sits on a network of active earthquake faults. The Rose Canyon Fault, which runs under La Jolla and downtown San Diego, is capable of producing a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that would cause significant damage.

Besides knowing what to do during an earthquake, people are encouraged to learn how to prepare before an earthquake by completing a family disaster plan, having a home or work emergency kit, and securing items around their home or workplace so they won’t fall.

To register to ShakeOut (even if it’s not at the designated time and day), visit www.ShakeOut.org, and to learn more about preparedness, visit www.ReadySanDiego.org .

Preparing Ahead of an Emergency

An "evacuee" gets their blood pressure checked by a Public Health Nurse during a mock emergency shelter drill conducted Thursday by the County's Office of Emergency Services and Health and Human Services Agency.Spending time in an emergency evacuation shelter is not something anyone wants to do. But in the event of an emergency, you might not have a choice.

If you do have to go to an emergency shelter, you may be frantic and stressed, having left your home – sometimes at a moment’s notice – not knowing what you’ll find when you eventually return home. Everyone else at the shelter is in a similar situation to you. There could be hundreds or even thousands of your fellow neighbors and friends at your local shelter.

San Diego County is hoping to lower residents’ stress levels by training staff to run an efficient, organized emergency shelter.

On Thursday morning, County staff from the Office of Emergency Services and the Health and Human Services Agency’s Public Health Services conducted an emergency shelter drill to train staff to open and manage safe shelters during emergencies.

“This gives you the opportunity to find out about all the operations that go into running a shelter,” Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., Public Health Officer told the Public Health Services staff before the drill began. “This exposure to the nuts and bolts of setting up and running a shelter is a wonderful opportunity.”

Dozens of participants were broken into groups and received their instructions from the drill coordinators. Some were assigned to nursing stations; others greeted and registered “evacuees.” Some displayed their acting chops by playing residents who arrived at the shelter with various ailments from rashes and head lice to broken limbs and respiratory problems.

This drill was just one of the numerous emergency drills conducted by the County every year to be sure our region is prepared in the event of any sort of disaster.

During a disaster, you can find shelter locations at www.sdcountyemergency.com or by calling 2-1-1.

Power Out, Emergency Operations On

County leaders and other regional officials discuss responses to the blackout at the Emergency Operations Center.

San Diegans had never seen anything like it: a power outage covering the entire county and beyond.  While the sudden cutoff meant the end of the workday for thousands of residents, it sent County emergency operations staff into action.

The County Emergency Operations Center activated at a Level Three – the highest level – due to the impact on the entire region and the need for coordination with dozens of other County and regional agencies to monitor the situation and respond.

The Center’s media room was soon filled with local reporters covering the developing situation. Chairman Bill Horn hosted two news conferences, sharing the podium with officials from the San Diego Gas & Electric, city of San Diego, the County Office of Education and other local leaders to share the latest developments and important safety information.

Delivering the message was one thing, but the outage meant few people were receiving it the way they normally would. That’s where the County took advantage of Twitter, continually posting messages throughout the evening. 

Electricity was eventually restored to the county about 12 hours after the blackout began. But the incident provided valuable lessons in coping with a large-scale power outage, which could be only one part of a major emergency like an earthquake.

“Overall, we were fortunate this turned out to be more inconvenience than disaster,” said Emergency Operations Director Ron Lane.  “But I hope as a result, San Diegans will take a look at how well prepared they were and take any steps they need to be better prepared in the future.”

Were you ready?  Among the items you should have in case of a blackout:

• a non-cordless phone that does not depend on electricity to operate
• flashlights
• battery- or crank-operated radio
• water and non-perishable food

Learn more about what you should have prepared at home, schools and the workplace at ReadySanDiego.org.