City Braces for Another Deluge

The good news: We're not in a burn area. The bad news: More thunderstorms are expected tonight, bringing with them the possibility of additional street flooding, downed trees and car accidents.

During Tuesday night's City Council meeting, City Manager Bill Workman said that there have been some downed power lines since rainstorms began last week, but so far the city has avoided major problems.

"We're doing really well at this point," Workman said, crediting the Public Works Department and Fire Department for their work clearing streets and storm drains.

More than 5 inches of rain has fallen in Redondo since Friday evening, according to L.A. County Department of Public Works. Workman noted that four to five additional inches of rain are forecast in the storm on the way.

The wettest, most powerful storm-front in the series that has pelted the region since Thursday is expected to arrive before dawn. More heavy rain, including thunder and lightning, is forecast for Wednesday before sunshine returns on Thursday. 

The deluge has wreaked havoc on the region, with the worst damage in areas burned in the Station Fire. Residents of La Canada and La Crescenta are being evacuated from their homes to stay clear of debris. 

On Monday, the Auto Club of Southern California received more than 25,000 calls for service—an all-time record, topping the 22,000 logged Oct. 9, 2008, when the region was locked in a heat wave.

"Monday was our highest volume day, and our preparations enabled us to deliver service to the majority of members in 30 minutes," Auto Club representative Jeffrey Spring said. ''The rest of the week is shaping up to be a very wet time on the roads and we will continue to staff up our call centers and contractor network to service our members when they need us most."

The Auto Club, the region's largest roadside assistance provider, is cautioning motorists to slow down and allow more space between vehicles while driving on slick roads and freeways.

"We recommend that if you don't need to be out on the road, don't drive," said Spring. "Those who must drive should watch for flooded areas on roads and on the freeways. Drivers should also watch for debris and disabled vehicles in reduced visibility conditions."

City News Service contributed to this report.