ESCONDIDO — The city will hold another winter weather workshop for residents.
The two-hour session will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9 in the community room at the Police and Fire Headquarters, 1163 N. Centre City Parkway. The event is free to the public, but seating is limited.
Scheduled speakers include Greg Thomas, general manager of the Rincon del Diablo Water District, Alex Tardy of the National Weather Service and city officials Alicia Appel (utilities department) and Jeff Murdock (fire department).
This is the second public workshop for residents as the four speakers also led the first session earlier this month.
Thomas spoke to the audience about the ongoing drought as this year’s average rainfall reached just 37.2 inches, about 13 inches less than average.
Tardy, who also presented his report to the Carlsbad City Council two weeks ago, said El Niño’s effects push the jet stream down from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California. With it can come large amounts of precipitation, although there have been years where little rain or snow has accumulated.
Still, Tardy said residents should prepare for above-normal precipitation even though it is not guaranteed.
Powell highlighted safety tips for residents at the previous workshop. In addition, she also updated the audience on the efforts by city crews in cleaning and clearing storm drains, ditches, gutters and identifying potential flood zones.
Powell said the city has stockpiled heavy equipment such as trucks, loaders, backhoes and other machinery. Sandbags, meanwhile, are available for residents at Kit Carson Park at no cost, although residents must fill the bags.
Murdock, Escondido’s emergency preparedness manager, detailed many tips for residents such as stocking portable generators, flashlights, batteries, food, water and clothes.
He said crisis response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has increased from 72 hours to 96 hours.
To reserve a seat, call (760) 745-5522.
