Disaster Recovery News

After a week of heavy rains left California wet and muddy, residents are bracing for yet another storm. The National Weather Service reports a smaller storm is expected to make landfall on Tuesday and should last a couple of days.

This comes as bad news as people took advantage of the drier weather and began the restoration process this weekend. The week of stormy weather affected the hills to the beaches: recently wildfire-devastated areas experienced mud slides and the coast had dirty beaches as the San Gabriel River sent trash to line the ocean shores. Stranger yet, cities across the state witnessed the fall of hail, and the sighting of a funnel cloud prompted a tornado warning near Brentwood. Work crews and residents in California are now scrambling to clean up what they can before the next wave of rain hits.

It is vital that water damage caused by the recent storms is cleaned up as mold damage will soon follow if items are left damp. A company that specialized in disaster recovery services can assist in this effort and help businesses and homeowners get back on their feet by drying wet documents and other items.

Learn more about how to recover from a flood.

The weekend rain continues to pour down on Southern California as four storms are predicted to blow through the area this week    . Rain is expected to continue through Tuesday morning and turn into a stronger storm with lightening and thunder. Hail, tornadoes, and up to 1.5 inches of rain are expected to make an appearance this afternoon and last through the night.

Authorities are advising commuters to exercise caution this evening on their way home. They also ask that people stay inside when there is lightening and thunder.

The coastal areas have a high-surf advisory in effect through the end of the week. A flood watch has also been issued through Wednesday.

The strongest in this series of storms is expected to affect Southern California on Wednesday and Thursday. Experts predict that as much as 8 inches of rain could fall in the area.

More on this story from the LA Times.

The heavy rains are bringing floods to may areas affected by the storms. Business owners need to make sure their data and documents are protected and who to call should items become damaged by water. If items damaged by flood waters are not restored properly, they can be further damaged by the molds that are likely to follow.

Many in southern California recovering from the recent fires now have placed sandbags around their homes in preparation for a storm coming in on Tuesday off the Pacific Ocean. The storm is predicted to bring flooding and possibly even mudslides.

Robert Jablon with the Associated Press writes:

“A low-pressure area about 700 miles off the coast was heading northeast and could bring an inch of rain through Thanksgiving and up to 4 inches in the mountains, said Stan Wasowski, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Diego.

Flash flood watches were posted through Wednesday evening for areas where grass and brush that normally anchors the soil, helping to prevent mudslides, burned away. Some places could get a half-inch of rain in an hour, the Weather Service said.”

Hundreds have been evacuated from their homes in preparation for the storm. There is much concern for the homes that were left vulnerable from the recent fires. Agencies providing aid are ready to take action should there be further disasters.

Read more about this story here.

Learn more about preparing for an emergency and making a disaster kit. After a storm has passed, there are steps one can take to recover from a flood and get their home and business back to as normal as possible.