El Niño: Authorities warn public to prepare for heavy flooding across California

[RandySF]

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Weather officials are predicting massive flooding throughout California over the next several months, and issued this warning to home owners: better get prepared because you’re running out of time.

In Friday morning’s conference call with media to address the impacts of the upcoming storm season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that dangerous flash flooding will be on the rise, according to data from weather models.

“People should have food and water for at least 72-hours in their vehicles and home,” NOAA spokesperson said.

Much of the focus during the call with the NOAA and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials was centered on preparedness and the importance of insurance coverage. According to weather officials, 50-70% of people who should have flood insurance do not.

“Flood insurance policies usually have a 30-day waiting period to take effect…the time to get one is now,” officials said.


http://kron4.com/2015/10/23/el-nino-authorities-warn-public-to-prepare-for-heavy-flooding-across-california/

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Very timely heads up.

All those fires left less ground cover, decreased ability of soil to hold water.

[denbot]

2. I live in a very flood resistant area, but I'm going to do a little sandbagging anyway.

The house behind me was remodeled into a Mc Mansion, and during heavy rains the runoff, floods both my neighbor's and my backyards.

Most of the runoff finds its way to the front of the house, and from there the storm drains. The catch is the back yard access to the crawl space under my house. The lip is basically only an inch or two above ground level, so the area under my house is prone flooding, and would remain flooded for some time if I did not have a jury rigged system to pump it out.

This year I'm going to do as much as possible to get ahead of the problem.