Be ready for pre & post-related storm concerns.

To help residents prepare for upcoming seasonal storms, please follow the following guidelines:
  

Pre-Storm Related Concerns

• Inspect & Clean: residential flooding, especially in basements and back yards, account for a significant number of fire department responses in bad weather. Regularly inspecting sump pumps and other drainage systems is critical to ensuring they are not clogged and are in good working order.
  
  Residents can avoid water seepage problems by inspecting and cleaning rain gutters throughout the year, and by having roofs inspected and repaired (as needed) during good weather. Landlords and property owners should regularly evaluate slopes and hillsides to determine the condition of natural vegetation and/or retaining walls to prevent possible mudslides.
   
• Have Storm Supplies on Hand:
  1) Sandbags can be obtained at many locations throughout the year, including free sandbags at all Alhambra fire stations:
   
• 301 North First Street
• 2200 West Main Street
• 1215 South Sixth Street
• 2505 West Norwood Place

Free sandbags are also usually available at the City Yard, 900 South New Avenue (located behind the Golf Course, off Adams Avenue) during impending bad weather. Hardware retailers, such as Home Depot, also carry these types of supplies.

2) Charged flashlights, with fresh batteries are essential during power outages. Candles should NOT be used as a substitute for lighting, and should not be left burning when residents go to sleep or leave the house. Carrying lit candles, while walking, can pose both burn and fire hazards.

3) Extra supplies of non-perishable food items and water may be essential during stormy weather, and certainly during other emergencies and disasters. Leaving home during a storm may be dangerous and hazardous, and a full supply of food and water will insure adequate supplies for survival until the emergency has passed.

• Buy a Good Umbrella and Some Rain Gear - Have rainy weather clothing and umbrellas available for the entire family. They will help keep everyone dry and ward off colds and flu.

• Know Who to Call: When there is a serious problem, and immediate help is needed, it helps to have a list of appropriate emergency numbers handy. Why not post this list by your phone?

Type of Incident	Phone No.
Police, Fire and Medical Emergencies	Call "9-1-1" (translators in many languages 24 hours per day)
Traffic Signal Problems	City of Alhambra-Traffic Engineering (626) 570-5058
Power Outages	Southern California Edison (800) 684-8123
Problems with Gas Heaters & Appliances	Gas Company/Sempra Energy   (800) 427-2200
Flooding	Call "9-1-1" in an Emergency situation; Call Alhambra Fire Department (626) 570-5190 (non-emergency)
Potholes/Street Repair	City of Alhambra Street Department (626) 570-5067
Arching/Sparking or Downed Electrical Wire	Call "9 -1-1"

Post-Storm Related Concerns

West Nile Virus (WNV)

WNV can be controlled by following the following guidelines:

• Check and drain all trash cans. Drill holes in the bottoms to allow water drainage. Keep trash cans tightly covered at all times.
• Drain water from flowerpot trays and self-watering flowerpots. Use material or steel wool to block 'fill-holes' in self-watering pots which mosquitoes use to enter and lay eggs.
• Clean rain gutters of leaves and pooled water. Sweep standing water from street gutters and report ongoing problems to the District.
• Check patio/yard drains to ensure they are free of standing water. Clean debris to ensure water flows out.
• Check and turn over all children's toys, buckets, wheel barrows, etc. Store indoors or in containers that will not hold water. Drill drain holes in tire swings to prevent water accumulation.
• Inoperable pools and spas must be checked and maintained now, and after every rainfall event, no matter how minor. Just a few inches of water will take weeks to evaporate and can produce thousands of mosquitoes.
• Ponds, fountains, water barrels, and bird baths are notorious breeders of mosquitoes. Ensure water movement by filtration and aeration, and stock with mosquitofish (available for free at you local district) if appropriate. Bird baths should be flushed weekly and kept free of algae.
• REPORT ALL DEAD BIRDS to the District by calling (626) 814-9466 or online at www.sgvmosquito.org/report.html. Dead birds are an indication that the virus is circulating in the environment. Not all birds will be collected for testing; however, the information is still critical to the statewide bird monitoring program

View the latest Alhambra Rainfall Report.