With powerful storms bearing down on the region, residents and businesses are urged to prepare themselves for the possibility of significant rainfall.
The City of Long Beach is providing sand and bags for residents to make their own sandbags. The public may pick up sand at five fire stations:
Station No 5 7575 E. Wardlow Rd.
Station No. 7 2295 Elm Ave.
Station No. 12 6509 Gundry Ave.
Station No. 13 2475 Adriatic Ave.
Station No. 14 5200 Eliot St.
Sand can also be obtained for free at the Public Works/San Francisco Yard, 1601 San Francisco Ave. Sand bags are being provided at all neighborhood fire stations.
Residents must bring a shovel and fill their own sand bags; however, residents with mobility impairments or seniors who need assistance can obtain filled bags at the Senior Center at El Dorado Park West, 2800 Studebaker Road, and the Long Beach Senior Center, 1150 E. 4th St.
Sandbags will last as long as they don’t have a hole. If the bags are reusable, residents should keep them for the next major rainstorm. To discard, distribute sand in a flowerbed or over a lawn, and then throw away the empty bags.
Do not take sand from the beach. It is illegal to dump sand at the beach, in the gutter or in the storm drain system. Sand can be returned to the Public Works/San Francisco Yard.
For information on how to fill sandbags, visit publicaffairs.water.ca.gov/information/sandbag.cfm
The City of Long Beach has prepared a list of important safety tips and emergency phone numbers for residents to access in the event of power outages, downed trees, flooding, etc. Emergency responders train and are prepared to respond to a disaster or other significant incident; however, residents are strongly urged to prepare themselves for a major emergency, with the goal of being able to be self-sustaining for at least 72 hours.
Important Phone Numbers• In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.
• To report flooding or a clogged or blocked storm drain, call (562) 570-2726.
• To report a fallen tree or limbs, call (562) 570-2770.
• For trees or limbs in city parks, call (562) 570-4895 during business hours, or (562) 570-3101 after-hours or on weekends.
• Fallen power lines are extremely dangerous. Report any downed lines to SCE immediately by calling 1-800-611-1911. Do not touch a downed line or anyone in contact with the line. Always assume a downed line is live. For more information, visit sce.com and click on the “Safety” tab.
• Long Beach Gas & Oil Department, (562) 570-2140
•Long Beach Water Department, (562) 570-2390
•City Street Lights/City Light & Power Co., 1-888-544-4868
Safety Tips
Remember to slow down and drive carefully. Exercise a great deal of caution and patience, and allow yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. Avoid large puddles and do not attempt to cross running water.
Stay out of the LA and San Gabriel Rivers and Flood Control Channels due to possible high waters.
Beach-goers are advised to avoid local waters for at least 72 hours after the end of rainfall due to the high bacteria and pollution levels from urban runoff.
Individuals can monitor the weather on television news, including the Weather Channel 76 on Charter Cable; radio news stations such as KFI 640 AM or KFWB 980 AM; and websites such as noaa.gov. In the left-hand column, insert a Long Beach ZIP code, and a local map and report will appear.
