Latest news with #L.A.CountyPublicWorks
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
L.A. County remains ‘critically short' on rainfall despite recent storms
It may feel like it rained a lot last year – and it did – but not enough to satisfy L.A. County's critical shortage of rainfall, officials say. A news release issued Tuesday by Water for L.A. County indicates that the county captured nearly 12 billion gallons of stormwater over the past several months. Tuesday was the last official day of the storm season, which begins on Oct. 15 every year. But the 11.9 billion gallons of stormwater received are still not enough. 'While the recent late-winter storms provided a much-needed boost, the region remains far below its typical annual rainfall totals,' Water for L.A. County said. 'Recent storms [boosted] stormwater capture, but the region remains critically short on rainfall.' Watch: Crews rescue stranded hiker 'death gripping' cliff on Southern California trail A 'stark contrast' provided by officials was the fact that the 2023-24 storm season brought 21.2 billion gallons of stormwater to the region, which was enough to meet the water needs of 2.9 million people for an entire year, officials explained. The drop in rainfall highlights L.A. County's water management challenges that are exacerbated by persistent drought conditions; thus, local legislators are looking to improve the system that supplies water to more than 9.7 million residents countywide. 'This year's storm season reminds us how urgent it is to build a more resilient, reliable water system,' said Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who authored the L.A. County Water Plan. 'That's why we are advancing bold, coordinated strategies through our L.A. County Water Plan to capture, store, and manage our local water supply — especially as climate change makes weather patterns more extreme and less predictable.' Included in the plan, which has been adopted by the Board of Supervisors and ten water agencies across the region, targets four key areas: Enhancing regional water supply by improving coordination and leveraging existing resources and infrastructure Improving quality, production and cost-effectiveness of unused groundwater supply treatment through collaborative efforts Ensuring equitable water service for all communities, particularly under-resourced areas Mitigating impact of wildfires on the county's water supply through coordinated land and water management 'Los Angeles County's flood control system is not just a historical achievement. It is a vital and evolving necessity for the safety and well-being of our communities and for safeguarding our local water resources, every single water year,' said L.A. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella, whose agency will continue to increase stormwater capture efforts. 'Its continued maintenance and modernization are paramount in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.' More information about water management in L.A. County can be found by going to Woman in El Sereno critical after hearing gunshot, realizing she's hit The Los Angeles Almanac's rainfall data for downtown L.A. indicates that, since 2019, the city's yearly rain totals have fluctuated greatly. It rained nine more inches in 2019-20 than it did in 2020-21 (14.86 inches compared to 5.82 inches) but increased to 12.18 in 2021-22 and more than doubled the following year (2022-23) to 28.40 inches — the eighth-wettest year in L.A. history and wettest in more than a decade-and-a-half — before falling slightly to 25.19 inches last year. Through March of this year, the City of Angels got 7.87 inches of rain, which is below the normal cumulative rainfall of 13.15 inches by that time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evacuation orders, warnings planned for burn zones as storm soaks Southern California
Evacuation orders and warnings are going into effect Thursday morning for the Los Angeles area burn zones as the strongest winter storm of the season drenches Southern California. Residents in the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones have been preparing for several days to keep their homes safe from potential mud and debris flows in anticipation of the massive storm. The Los Angeles Fire Department has already issued an emergency alert announcing evacuation orders for specific addresses and warnings for several areas will be in effect between 7 a.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Friday due to the high risk of mudslides. 'These areas are recently burned and especially susceptible to heavy rain,' the Fire Department stated. Palisades Fire area: Getty Villa area, Highlands near the burned areas, Bienveneda area near Temescal Canyon Park, Reseda Blvd area/Marinette Road near Will Rogers State Park, Mandeville Canyon above Tanners Road. Sunset Fire area: East and South of Runyon Canyon. Hurst Fire area: Olive Lane in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park. Homes in the higher-risk warning areas will be visited by Los Angeles police officers to issue specific evacuation orders, the Fire Department stated. 'If you decide to stay in your property in an evacuated area. Debris from the burn scar area and storm may impede roads and we may not be able to reach you. That is not a good scenario or situation for anybody involved,' Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Evacuation warnings will also be in effect for many areas within the Eaton Fire burn zone including the Altadena areas near the San Gabriel foothills where thousands of K-Rails and sandbags are now in place. More information and maps of all impacted areas can be found on the L.A. County Public Works website. The National Weather Service predicts a 'high risk of flooding and burn scar debris flows' as the Los Angeles area is expected to receive between an inch and a half and three inches of rain from this week's storms. California Weather Radar The heaviest showers are expected to fall between 6 a.m. Thursday and noon Friday, with rain rates between half an inch and one inch per hour. Lighter showers are expected to continue Friday before drier and warmer conditions arrive for the weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
27-01-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
How Palisades residents who lost their homes can sign up for debris removal
City and federal officials expect the Environmental Protection Agency to begin removal of toxic debris in the Palisades burn area and to allow the remainder of Pacific Palisades residents to visit their properties early this week, they said at a town hall Sunday. As the Palisades transitions into recovery, leaders outlined the next steps in the process for residents who are antsy to begin rebuilding. After the EPA completes 'phase one' removal of toxic debris on a property, the homeowner can choose to participate in a free government program coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Homeowners can also choose to contract with a licensed private company and pay for the work out of pocket or try to go through their insurance company. Mark Pestrella, the director of L.A. County Public Works, said the sign-ups for both 'phase two' options would begin Tuesday on the county's recovery website. Residents who choose the government option will need to give consent for the corps to enter their property, and those who choose the private route will need to submit a permit application. Pestrella said the phase two sign-ups are not first-come first-served. The order of phase two debris removal will depend on terrain, when phase one removal is completed for each property and whether the entire neighborhood has signed up, which allows the corps to work on clusters of homes instead of individual properties. The director noted that residents didn't have to wait for debris to be completely cleared to start the building permit application process with their respective city or county. The federal government is offering affected residents multiple opportunities to receive disaster relief funds. Through former President Biden's Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA offers funds for short-term rentals, emergency short-term lodging, home repairs and home replacements. Residents can apply here. The IRS pushed back the tax filing deadline until Oct. 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers and announced the federal declaration should allow affected residents to deduct property damage and destruction from their taxes, thanks to the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act. Roughly 270 state-chartered banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders have already committed to mortgage relief, said State Assemblymember Jackie Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), who urged residents to check with their mortgage companies. The Small Business Administration also offers disaster assistance loans for California wildfire victims. Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) said federal aid is usually capped at $86,000, with another $10,000 available from the state, although he said he was working in Congress to secure more funds for disaster relief.
