How to Prepare for Another Rainstorm

As the Los Angeles area braces for yet another rainstorm, predicted to begin late Tuesday, South Pasadena Fire Captain Richard Jenkins offered tips on how to prepare for the storm. While South Pasadena has not experienced severe problems this week due to the rain, unlike nearby foothill communities such as , residents should still be aware of weather-related incidents.

National Weather Service forecasters predict intense rainfall for overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday. Rainfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour, and go up to as high as two inches per hour. According to the National Weather Service, the Pasadena area has seen over 6 inches of rain so far.

"Listen to the weather reports," Jenkins said. "If you live in an area where there are hills, be proactive and take action." 

Here's a list of tips on how to prevent rainstorm-related problems:

• Place sandbags around doorways. Pile these sandbags up two or three bags high outside the home to create a water barrier. The city of South Pasadena has made free sand and sandbags available to local residents in the parking lot behind the fire station at 817 Mound Avenue. Local residents can shovel the sand into plastic bags themselves at the dumpster.
• Residents who live in the hill areas should cover up any bare soil areas with plastic covering, since extreme water saturation can affect the stability of the soil.
• Utilize a sump pump if you have one. This type of pump removes water from an area that won't properly drain, pumps the water into a pipe and releases the water onto the street away from low areas. 
• Make sure your rain gutters are cleared out and that your drains are free of debris.
• Prepare the outside of your home by bringing in things that can get ruined by excessive water.
• If you see a storm drain catch basin in the street that is plugged and not draining, alert the city's Public Works Department right away by calling 626-403-7240.

So far, the rain has caused two trees to fall over in South Pasadena, including one tree on Edgewood Drive on Sunday. Fire Chief Jenkins said a large tree fell in the middle of a yard Monday night on Hill Drive, damaging part of a house. "The tree was rain-ladened and the ground was saturated," he said. 

Deputy Public Works Director Shin Furukawa said a water main broke Tuesday afternoon on Oak Crest Avenue, though it's not clear whether the rain or the cold temperature caused this pipeline break. The city experiences about five to ten water main breaks every winter, Furukawa said.

Jenkins also said the is keeping its eye on the Arroyo Seco storm drain. During long periods of rain, the water in the Arroyo Seco can reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour, according to Jenkins. "It's just dangerous to be around," he said. He said the current water level is fine, but he will monitor the level during the upcoming storm. Since the storm drain is not adjacent to residential areas in South Pasadena, Jenkins said it does not pose much of a threat to homes. 

In other weather-related news, the moved day camp youngsters indoors this week, since the playground sits below street level and water has accumulated there. "The picnic tables look like they're swimming in water," said Alexis Braun, South Pasadena staff. The playground is soaked and the field at has also been saturated. 

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated a water main on Oak Crest Avenue broke on Monday afternoon, but the water main broke on Tuesday afternoon. We have corrected the error.