Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale

By Valerie Gutierrez

Eastvale – After several months of preparations for El Niño by local agencies, Southern California received the first storm of the year rattling the region causing strong winds, flooding, mudslides and road closures.

Although the city of Eastvale is being responsible for maintaining the storm drains, channels and ditches clean for sufficient water to flow by, the city did receive minor flooding due to heavy rainfall.
“We were out in the field during the storm to monitor and learn firsthand what the affects would be,” Eastvale’s Deputy City Engineer Joe Indrawan said. “We observed where actual water accumulates and we are taking proper measurements by adding catch basin inlets to eliminate these issues in the future should it happen again.”

City officials also point out that they worked together with the Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) to ensure that James Huber Park and Harada Park, which temporarily hold excess stormwater, were properly cleaned and functional.
During this potentially strong El Niño, in the event of minor flooding, Eastvale residents may protect their homes by securing them with sandbags.
The city’s Public Information Officer Daniella McClister says that sandbags will be available for residents to pick up at Fire Station No. 27 located at 7067 Hamner Ave.
Reminders for those needing sandbags:

• Residents picking up sandbags must show proof of Eastvale residency by providing a valid ID and recent utility bill.
• Sandbags will be distributed per household in rolls of ten bags.
• Sandbags are self-service only.
• Available while supplies last.

The city started their emergency preparedness since June 2015, according to the city’s Senior Administrative Analyst Tamar Irwin.

Irwin mentioned that the city has undertaken several preparedness activities including multiple meetings with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Corona-Norco Unified School District and city of Chino  to name a few.

McClister says that all city personnel is FEMA and NIMs trained in the event that the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) needs to be activated.

“Some staff, council and commissioners are CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) trained,” McClister added.

CERT is a program that teaches citizens how to approach an emergency or disaster situation by bringing the community together to help one another. The next free CERT Training will be held on Jan. 29-31.