Street Flooding is Possible, Officials Say

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is warning residents in and around wind-damaged communities to on the lookout for street flooding.

Anyone who may be cleaning debris from their homes is asked not to put it on their neighborhood roadways.

The possible flooding alert was been issued in advance of rainstorms that are forecasted for the County area today.

LA County Public Works officials said the flood control system had been prepared and that additional inspections were being made in windstorm affected areas to determine whether any extra clean out of channels was necessary.

County Public Works spokesperson, Bob Spencer, said despite the efforts of county and city clean-up crews, it would be several weeks before some streets and roadways were completely clear of debris.

"The potential for localized street flooding could be serious if we get significant amounts of rainfall," Spencer said. "Residents of impacted communities need to stay alert to the possibility of such flooding."

Meanwhile, residents of windstorm-damaged County unincorporated communities have another opportunity to dispose of fallen tree limbs and other tree debris for free this weekend.

Local waste haulers in La Crescenta, Altadena and Kinneloa Mesa, East Pasadena/East San Gabriel, Citrus, and East Charter Oak have coordinated with the LA County Public Works Department and the Department of Parks and Recreation to offer the additional free tree debris drop-off events, county officials said.

Residents are urged to call their local waste hauler prior to utilizing the service for instructions on how to prepare their tree debris for drop-off, officials said. Proof of residency is required.

Residents are also advised to continue to use their large green waste bins for smaller tree debris and to contact their waste hauler to arrange pick-up of additional excess tree debris on their regular trash collection day, officials said. Unacceptable items for green waste bins include palm tree branches, bamboo, soil, painted or treated wood.

The removal and clearing of tree waste or green debris that is not in the public right of way is the responsibility of private property owners. Waste and debris should not be dumped in public rights of way or flood control channels.

The times and locations of the free tree debris drop-off events are:

East Pasadena/East San Gabriel:
Hauler-Burrtec Waste Industries (800) 325-9417
Location-County Public Works Facility, corner Duarte Road and Highland Ave., Duarte (far east side of City of Hope)
Dates-Saturday (Dec 10) 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For further information, residents of County unincorporated communities can also call the County's trash collection hotline at (800) 993-5544.