BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 Rain is set to pelt Kern County overnight and into Tuesday morning. Dark clouds are covering Bakersfield and parts of the city have already seen a few isolated droplets.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first significant rain of the season and even though it\u2019s not going to be a huge storm, it\u2019s always smart to go over some basic safety tips.<\/p>\n
Kern County is prone to flooding when it gets even just inches of rain. Local experts are advising homeowners and drivers on how to weather the storm.<\/p>\n
Remains of World War II solider returned home <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLook at your vehicle, inspect the tires, make sure you look at your windshield wipers, make sure that they are in good working condition,\u201d said Jorge Toro with the Highway Patrol.<\/p>\n For drivers, Toro said when roads are slick, the biggest safety measure is to watch your speed.<\/p>\n \u201cSpinouts are a frequent occasion anytime we get rain,\u201d Toro said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s past the first big rainfall that we experience here in the Bakersfield area.\u201d<\/p>\n But being a mindful, aware driver is always important too.<\/p>\n Keep at least a car\u2019s length between you and another car when you\u2019re driving.<\/p>\n \u201cI see, during inclement weather, many times people following way too close, which you do have to understand, it\u2019s going to take you a long time to stop,\u201d said Toro.<\/p>\n Flooding can happen with rainfall, especially in the desert areas of the county. There are ways to protect your home from water damage, such as building a sandbag fort around your property.<\/p>\n \u201cSo they just create a barrier, right? So if you stack them up like a wall, you fill them with sand obviously then lay them on top of each other. It prevents the water from intruding into the home or low-lying areas,\u201d said Capt. Derek Rodriguez with the Bakersfield Fire Department.<\/p>\n