Long Beach is offering sand bags and other resources to residents as a powerful atmospheric river makes its way through Southern California during Christmas week.
The storm, which swept into the region on Tuesday evening, Dec. 23, is expected to bring significant rain and strong winds to Long Beach through Saturday night, Dec. 27 — alongside elevated surf along the coast.
The National Weather Service has issued several weather warnings for the Los Angeles/Long Beach area, including a flood watch, a high surf advisory, a wind advisory, a flood advisory and flash flood watch, as of around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
“Our public safety teams, public works crews, and emergency response staff are fully mobilized and will continue monitoring conditions around the clock,” Mayor Rex Richardson wrote in a Tuesday newsletter. “While the city is ready, preparation at home and in our neighborhoods is just as important. I encourage you to plan ahead, commute carefully and avoid flooded roadways.”
Residents in low-lying and historically vulnerable areas — including the Peninsula and Alamitos Bay — are advised to take extra precautions, the city said.
To help residents protect their homes, Long Beach has opened several sandbag distribution sites. Empty sandbags are available for pick up at every Long Beach Fire Department neighborhood station.
Empty bags, alongside sand, will be available at:
The lifeguard station at 72nd Place and Ocean Boulevard.
Fire Station 7, 2295 Elm Ave.
Fire Station 12, 1199 Artesia Blvd.
Fire Station 13, 2475 Adriatic Ave.
Fire Station 14, East Paoli Way and East Third St.
The Claremont Beach lot, 5400 E. Ocean Blvd.
The sandbags will be available for Long Beach residents (you’ll have to show ID), and will be limited to 10 bags per household. People are encouraged to bring their own shovels.
For those in need of assistance, staff will be available to help fill sandbags at the Lifeguard Station at 72nd Place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 26.
“Ahead of this storm, city crews have cleared catch basins in flood-prone areas and inspected pump stations and seawall plugs to ensure they are functioning properly,” Richardson’s newsletter said. “Our Fire Marine Safety Swift Water Rescue teams will patrol riverbeds to warn of rising waters, and outreach teams will continue supporting people experiencing homelessness.”
Long Beach has also activated its inclement weather shelter at the Multi-Service Center, and staff from the Homeless Services Bureau will conduct outreach through Monday, Dec. 29, to let people in need know about the shelter.
The city will also suspend street sweeping and street sweeping violation enforcement on Wednesday, Dec. 24, because of the storm; and on Christmas Day because of the holiday. Normal operations are scheduled to resume on Friday, Dec. 26.
Other storm safety tips from the city include:
Avoid unnecessary travel. If you do travel, be sure to avoid driving through flooded roads or walking through flowing streams of water.
Slow down at intersections and exercise additional caution when driving during inclement weather, especially at night. Watch out for utility workers on the road.
Secure personal property and vehicles in flood-prone areas. Stay off sand berms and away from city vehicles on the coastline.
You can report street flooding and downed trees at 562-570-2700; and report downed powerlines by calling 911. Clogged storm catch-basins, downed trees and damaged traffic signals can be reported in the Go Long Beach app.
For additional storm resources, go to longbeach.gov/LBRain.