Doi News Release -- Flood Preparedness Remains Hig
Incident: So Cal BAER Coordination Burned Area Emergency Reh
Released: 11/15/2007
Press Release-For Immediate Release
Department of Interior BAER Team
November 13, 2007
Flooding Preparedness Remains High Priority
Even though the fires in southern California are contained, the threats to residents continue. The combination of the lack of vegetation, burned soils and steep slopes all can contribute to flash flooding and debris flow (flash flooding carrying boulders, rocks and sediment).
On Department of the Interior lands, numerous efforts are underway to reduce the risks to life and property downstream of the fire area. These efforts include removal of floatable debris in stream channels, cleaning plugged culverts, and providing structure protection through sand bagging and placing k-rails around residences in the potential path of flooding.
Along with immediate stabilization activities, an Early Warning System (EWS) is being implemented by the Department of the Interior Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) Team in cooperation with the La Jolla Tribe and other tribes. The Early Warning System is for residents of the La Jolla, Rincon, Pauma and Pala Reservations. This area is being targeted due to the high soil burn severity, the high potential for flooding and debris flow, and the location of the residences close to and in the path of stream channels. These indicators, along with the typical storm patterns in the area, the amount of remaining vegetation upslope and the steepness of the slopes all go into determining where the system is implemented.
The Early Warning System will include rain and stream gauges along with a base station that monitors rainfall intensity and rise in stream flow. Once these levels reach a threshold, the EWS will warn residents via a paging system, a reverse 911 call or emergency siren, depending on the level of threat.
Installation is expected to begin within the next week and will likely take one to two weeks to complete depending on availability of equipment. Once in place, system monitoring will be done cooperatively by tribal members and the sheriff's department.
For additional information, please contact the DOI BAER Team Information Officer, Jeanne Klein, at 541-261-3124.
