Residents of Los Angeles County are being urged by county leaders to prepare for emergency conditions as Hurricane Hilary approaches. They are calling on residents to establish evacuation plans and gather emergency supply kits in anticipation of the potential storm. Additionally, county officials are working to clear homeless individuals from riverbeds and flood control channels that could be at risk of flooding during the heavy rains from the storm. Although Hilary is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches Southern California, it is still predicted to bring heavy rain and high winds.
Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized the importance of preparedness during a news conference, stating, “I don’t want people to panic, but we need to be prepared.” The sheriff’s department will have personnel ready to quickly respond to emergency situations, specifically search-and-rescue personnel and aircraft. The county’s Emergency Operations Center will also be activated to coordinate efforts. Prior to the storm, the sheriff’s department has been collaborating with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and other assistance agencies to reach out to homeless individuals who may be camping in dangerous areas such as riverbeds.
Efforts to warn and assist the homeless started this morning and will continue until Sunday morning. Patrol units are driving along roadways near riverbeds, making announcements to alert people about the incoming storm. Sheriff’s aircraft have also been deployed to identify individuals in potential danger. Janice Hahn, a County Supervisor, expressed concerns for the homeless population and mentioned ongoing efforts to relocate them to temporary housing.
Hahn cautioned that county parks may be closed if they are deemed unsafe due to heavy rain and strong winds. She also advised against traveling to Catalina Island this weekend, as it could be particularly vulnerable to the storm. Additional personnel will be sent to Rolling Hills Estates to prevent further damage from the expected torrential rains. Hahn emphasized the importance of everyone’s safety and urged residents to stay off the roads on Sunday and Monday if unnecessary.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alert notifications at alert.lacounty.gov. Kevin McGowan, the director of county emergency management, stressed the importance of preparedness by suggesting that residents prepare emergency kits, establish evacuation plans, and sign up for emergency alerts in advance. McGowan provided a list of emergency preparedness tips available at ready.lacounty.gov and mentioned that real-time emergency updates can be accessed at lacounty.gov/emergency.
County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone offered additional advice, including arranging for emergency battery backup for essential medical equipment, avoiding the ocean and flood water, and refraining from approaching downed trees or power lines. Sandbags are being provided to residents at all fire stations in the county.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
