FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — With heavy rain expected in the Central Valley through the weekend, Fresno City workers were busy clearing leaves by the truckload.
The Central Valley is bracing for the year’s biggest spell of winter weather, and Fresno is putting measures in place to keep residents safe.
“Checking pumps, clearing drains, making sure that everything is ready to go,” said Public Works Director Scott Mozier.
Mozier will have teams on call 24/7, and their focus is on keeping debris out of the roadways.
The late winter has allowed trees to keep leaves that the storm could turn into slick hazards for drivers and clog drains.
“If the rain gets more intense, we may see the storm knock down more of the leaves, which means a big emphasis for us is on the street sweeping program,” Mozier said.
That program was out in full force Thursday.
Crews near Sierra and West cleared the roads of any and all debris, with the goal of minimizing localized flooding.
In the mountains, concerns are rising over burn scars left by a summer that saw several fires.
But Fresno County District 5 Supervisor Nathan Magsig says crews have been working around the clock to protect any areas left vulnerable by the blaze.
“If we do have any debris getting on the roadway or mudslides happening, we’ve got equipment and crews that will be dispatched to clear those areas up,” Magsig said.
For families worried about protecting their property, Magsig is urging residents to not take matters into their own hands, and is ensuring that help will be on the way.
“If you do find yourself in an area where there is flooding, do not go into that water. Do not even bring your vehicle into that water. Please reach out to our public works department, or you can always contact the non-emergency line and we will dispatch crews to make sure we keep those roadways open,” Magsig explained.
In the city of Fresno, Mozier says cleanup crews will be sent out as soon as the rain passes.
Anyone who spots any hazards on the road is encouraged to call 311 or report it through the Fres-Go App.
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