Even this morning on what was a white knuckle driver many, you can see the beginnings of urban flag bloody. Officials are watching low-lying areas and rivers for dangerous conditions over the next few days. Joining me is Sarah, the floor -- want control integer. Welcome to the program. Thank you. I am happy to join you today. Want are the conditions rock County? There are roadways that we know tend to flood, even in small amounts of rain. We have road crews that are out inspecting and monitoring these areas. They are removing debris from the roads. We have 13 road crews that started 24 hour coverage of the roads last night. Our road crews will patrol the roads around the clack until the third storm has left the region. We have cameras set up at low water crossings. There are low-water crossings that typically flood and we have to close the roads. What are they? We have web cameras at Corey wrote in Spring Valley. We have a web camera north of Fallbrook. There is one at country club Road and one a cold grape Road. The public can go on to the webpage look at the conditions of the roads day or night. In the past, clogged storm drains have been a major problem. Were they cleared ahead of the storm? Absolutely. Road crews work year round to inspect and maintain the drainage systems. Of course, when we see debris your trash or sediment, we clear those out of the drainage systems. What about staffing levels? Is the counting ringing in additional Chris? This moment, they are not bringing in additional crews. All of the road crews will work storm patrol around the clock. Are you expecting the San Diego RTO wanted nearby stage or flood? There is a rubber the river that we're watching. It doesn't flow year-round. There is a deep aquifer and it takes a lot of water to fill it up before we's see flow. We expect to see flow this weekend. We will look out for that. What is the flood control management service at the county most concerned about during this rain event? We are concerned about the low-water crossings, evening though there are barriers, we see when it rains that people drive around the barriers. That is a dangerous situation, not only for the driver and a passenger in a car but also for emergency management personnel that would have to come out and do a water rescue. I've been speaking with Sarah the flood control manager with San Diego County. Thank you. Thank you. Struck the rescue department is on alert status. We have Captain. Joe and Captain. arbiter, welcome. Thank you . What situations are you preparing for? During these rainy days, we have situations that present problems on the roadways and waterways. We wrapped up the lifeguards and water crews and firefighters to respond to water related emergencies. To special teams on hand? We do. We have a rescue team that I just mentioned and it includes a lot of our lifeguards that are specially trained in water related emergency. The equipment is on standby ready to go. We have helicopters who are equipped and ready with voiced raising capabilities. They are ready 24 hours 27 -- 24/7. You respond to vehicle accidents and lighted buildings and impossible roof collapses. What do you recall from the last heavy rain in 2010? During his rains, we were presented with a lot of problems that work cost because of the rain. We had fallen trees and many accidents. We are prepared. We are and all hazard fire department which will respond to all emergencies, not water related emergencies but things that happened during the rain. We are seeing that now. We are responding to vehicle accidents this morning. We are ready and willing and prepared to protect the citizens. That what level of alert are you now? We are at alert 1 which process on a heightened alert to have the equivalent ready and the firefighters and lifeguards are up staffed. We are ready to go to an alert 2 which will make us monitored the hazard areas throughout the city. Will we go to alert 3 which we are anticipating that on Sunday or during the storm, we will go and patrol areas where we can reach somebody in a fast time. When it comes to driving, San Diego is unfamiliar with driving and rain. What should they watch out for when it comes to standing water? I am asked about this. Widely seem to have more problems? It is a simple fact. We do not get a lot of rain and reachable only do comment calls does cause this problem. We need to slow down. There are emergencies with the roadways and her traffic accidents. We have had rescues already today. Slowdown and be sure your car is properly maintained and your windshield wipers are kept up. As far as driving through standing water, oh Beta traffic signs and barricades things that might indicate that standing water is deeper than you may think many times, people try to cross a body of water, thinking it is a small puddle and it turns out to be that they are in too deep. Last week, we had to save somebody off of the roof of a car because they were stranded. We managed to rescue that person. It happens often but we asked people to but does not seem right, go the other way. That will always work. Do not drown, turnaround. Exactly. I've been speaking with the fire and rescue department. Thank you.
San Diego-area firefighters and lifeguards are bracing for heavy rain, flooding and mountain snow as a series of Pacific storms begin to sweep through the region.
In the city of San Diego, lifeguards and firefighters plan to closely monitor areas historically prone to flooding, such as along the San Diego River and in the Tijuana River Valley, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
Members of the San Diego Urban Area All-Hazards Incident Management Team will be on hand for emergency support, as will a 25-member Lifeguard Swiftwater Rescue Team, which is equipped to deal with a wide range of inland water rescue situations, San Diego Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said.
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"All of our on- and off-duty lifeguard and firefighter resources have been placed on heightened alert, including our fire-rescue helicopters and crews which provide 24/7 hoist rescue emergency response. The aircraft are staffed and available to respond to swiftwater rescues within the city and throughout the county at night," Fennessy said.
Fire officials urged San Diegans to avoid flood prone areas, if possible, and stay out of flooded areas and those where water is flowing. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Capt. Joe Amador also advised to slow down and keep distance in front of you when driving. More safety tips can be found on the department's website.
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Cal Fire personnel are also gearing up for anticipated weather-related incidents. Staffed around San Diego County will be two swiftwater rescue teams, a helicopter with hoisting capabilities and hand crews for "flood fighting operations," Cal Fire Capt. Isaac Sanchez said.
Fire engines with 4-wheel drive will also be used in mountain areas that traditionally get heavy snow during winter storms, including Palomar Mountain, Pine Valley and Mount Laguna, Sanchez said.
San Diego County officials are closely monitoring low lying areas in the unincorporated areas of the region.
“There are roadways in the unincorporated county that we know tend to flood even in small amounts of rain. We have road crews that are out monitoring and inspecting these areas, removing debris from the road. We have 13 road crews that started 24-hour coverage of the road last night,” said Sara Agahi, manager of the county’s flood control district.
Aghai said the county also uses a network of sensors and several web cameras to monitor water levels.
The public can check conditions at low water crossings on the county’s website.
