Updated: Power Out, City Declares Local Wind Emergency (Photos)

Friday 12:00 p.m.

The city released the following statement: 

With the recent windstorm, the City of Sierra Madre has experienced many uprooted trees, snapped branches, and tree debris throughout the City.  City crews have been working to continue to clear roads and the following 4 areas are impassable at this point:  W. Carter Avenue west of Lima; W. Laurel between Baldwin and Auburn; Montecito Court behind the businesses along Kersting Court; and Manzanita Avenue between Park and Sunnyside.  The City’s main east/west arterial, Sierra Madre Boulevard, is open to traffic.    
 
Due to the County wide emergency, the 911 lines may be answered by an alternate agency, but your emergency will be handled in the appropriate manner. Please call the City’s main line at (626) 355-7135 for non-emergency calls. Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies, downed utility lines, or damaged buildings.  
 
The City has been in contact with Southern California Edison regarding restoring power.  At this time, Southern California Edison is only responding to 911 wire-down calls.  Southern California Edison has advised the City that crews are expected to begin restoring power in 48 to 72 hours from today.  Customers are asked to stay away from any downed or dangling lines.  A downed line or dangling wire is dangerous-even if it appears not to be live.  While temporary power has been restored to the City’s water system, residents are asked to continue to conserve water.

Thursday 11:00 p.m.

The city issued the following statement:

The City of Sierra Madre City Council held an emergency meeting today to declare a state of emergency as a result of the severe windstorm.  The declaration of the state of emergency is necessary because the response
will exceed the availability of City resources, and it will be necessary to request resources from outside the City.  In addition, the proclamation is the first step in responding to and recovering from emergencies and will assist in accessing state or federal disaster relief programs or funds, if they become available.   
 
Sierra Madre continues to have downed trees, damaged public and private properties, damaged utility infrastructure, and mass debris resulting from the windstorm.  Electrical power remains out for much of the City.  In addition, approximately 28 structures were reported to have possible damage.  The City’s Building and Safety staff have inspected all of these structures, 7 structures were red tagged; 6 structures were yellow tagged as restricted.  The remaining 15 structures have minor building damage.  Many of these reported structures were damaged by fallen trees and downed utility poles.
 
City crews have been working through the night and within 24 hours it is anticipated that all roads will be reopened, unless severe winds resume this evening.  At this time, the City’s main east/west arterial, Sierra Madre Boulevard is open to traffic.  It is anticipated that it will take three to four weeks to completely remove all debris from the public right-of-way.  The City’s main priority is life safety, inspecting damaged structures, and reopening roads.   
 
Residents are urged to remain home if possible, for their safety and to keep roads open to emergency and repair crews.  While temporary power has been restored to the City’s water system, residents are asked to continue to conserve water.
 
Southern California Edison continues to work to restore services to affected residents.  Customers are asked to stay away from any downed or dangling lines.  A downed line or dangling wire is dangerous-even if it appears not to be live.

11 a.m. The city issued the following statement:

At noon today, the Sierra Madre City Council will be holding an emergency meeting to declare a state of emergency as a result of the severe windstorm.  Sierra Madre continues to have downed trees, damaged public and private properties, damaged utility infrastructure, and mass debris resulting from the windstorm.  The City Council will be taking action to affirm the emergency declaration by the Director of Emergency Services.

The declaration of the state of emergency is necessary because the response will exceed the availability of City resources, and it will be necessary to request resources from outside the city.  In addition, the proclamation is the first step in responding to and recovering from emergencies and will assist in accessing state or federal disaster relief programs or funds, if they become available.  

Electrical power remains out for much of the City.  In addition, approximately 20 structures have been damaged.

Residents are urged to remain home if possible.  While temporary power has been restored to the City’s water system, residents are asked to continue to conserve water.

The City’s main priority is life safety, inspecting damaged structures, and reopening roads.  City crews have been working through the night, but it will take many days to completely clear the streets.

Please call the City’s main line at (626) 355-7135 for non-emergency calls.  Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies, downed electrical lines, or damaged buildings.

10:40 a.m. Power seems to be out in most of downtown Sierra Madre Thursday morning as a result of Wednesday night's high winds. Almost all of the businesses appear to be closed--with the exception of local coffee spot which was operating on a generator and serving coffee to the huddled masses.

Earlier:

From the City of Sierra Madre:

At 7:00 am, the Sierra Madre City Manager declared a local emergency due to damage throughout the city from last night’s windstorm. There are approximately 20 structures that have been damaged, in addition there are numerous blocked streets, and many roads are impassible. There are also downed power lines and power outages continue.

Residents are urged to remain home if possible. In addition, due to the power outage to the City’s water pumping facilities, residents are strongly urged to conserve water.

The City’s main priority is life safety, inspecting damaged structures, and reopening roads. City crews have been working through the night, but it will take some time to clear the streets.

Please call the City’s main line at (626) 355-7135 for non-emergency calls. Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies, downed electrical lines, or damaged buildings.