9:30 am SM PD just finished a drive through the canyon announcing condition RED and voluntary evacuations are in place. The storm that will be moving through today in tomorrow is anticipated to drop 2-3 inches of rain. The City PIO site does not have the alert status posted but does have the weather forecast up.
Just spoke to a representative at the City. The Red flag alert was called because ot the potential of debris flow and amount of rain predicted. If there is a flow there is also a possiblity of Canyon closure.
Here is the e-mail alert:
The City of Sierra Madre spoke this morning with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works who is expecting a Phase 1, possibly a Phase 2 mudflow prediction for Christmas Eve. LACDPW will not actually make the forecast until the National Weather Service provides a more accurate rainfall estimate for the area.
Currently the rainfall range is 2-3 inches tomorrow, 12/24 through Thursday, 12/25. In the case of mud and/or debris flow the City will clean up the streets as soon as possible once the rain stops and it is safe for crews to enter the mud areas. This may mean that clean-up efforts may not begin until after the holiday.
The City urges all residents in the potential mud flow areas to be prepared for heavy rains and to stay tuned to the City alerts via email, flags, electronic billboards, the City website at www.cityofsierramadre.com and the Emergency blog at http://www.sierramadrepio.blogspot.com.
In the mean time the City of Sierra Madre wishes you and your family safe and happy holidays.
Red Flag alert canceled. The big weather event so mnay predicted didn’t happen.
See update at the Sierra Madrfe Tattler.