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January 2008 Ojai Storm Watch

Agency View:

Following are resources that may be useful in tracking and preparing for the ongoing storms, rains and floods. Additional updates will be posted on the main Ojai Post site. All links open in a new window

EDIS Bulletins - Emergency Digital Information Service

Flood Advisory (Sat. 1/26, 11:57PM): RAINFALL RATES WERE GENERALLY AVERAGING TWO TO FOUR TENTHS OF AN INCH PER HOUR... WITH LOCAL RATES AS HIGH AS THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH PER HOUR. THE RAIN WILL CONTINUE WELL INTO THE NIGHT...AND THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. WIDESPREAD PONDING OF WATER WILL CONTINUE ON AREA FREEWAYS AND ROADWAYS...AND THERE WILL BE LOCAL FLOODING OF INTERSECTIONS AND UNDERPASSES. IN ADDITION...SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS.
Special Weather Statement (Sat. 1/26, 4:32PM): vigorous storm system, heavy rainfall, embedded thunderstorms, strong winds, small hail, isolated small tornado activity...

County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
EOC serves as one of the central points for activating the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for broadcasting emergency information to residents. To Obtain Emergency Information Tune To One of the Radio Stations:

• KVEN 1450 AM
• KHAY 100.7 FM
• KMLA 103.7 FM (SPANISH)

California Highway Patrol
(Sun. 1/27, 12:06AM) Traffic Hazard Location: SR150 AT DENNISON GRADE - LARGE ROCK IN WB LANE. RESPONDING OFFICERS STATUS: 11:25PM - CHP Unit On Scene

Ventura County Fire Department - (805) 388-4220

Property owners can help protect their homes and businesses by taking a few simple precautions while the rain continues:

• Clear debris from rain gutters.
• Clear and clean all drains in yards, driveways and pool decks that could clog and cause backups into a home.
• Clear and place sandbags in problem areas if the area has been affected by a wildfire or if there have been flooding problems in the past.

If flooding occurs:

• Use extreme caution when crossing roads or areas of flowing water. It is very difficult to determine the depth of flowing water and it may be dangerously deep.
  
• Do not use storm or runoff channels for recreation. They are deceptively dangerous and rescue is extremely difficult since these channels are designed to move vast quantities of water very quickly.

"We’re advising people to prepare now," said Capt. Barry Parker. "Many of our fire stations have sandbags, but they are only for emergency and, by that time, it may be too late to protect your property. We suggest people go to one of the many retailers who sell sand and sandbags and take steps to protect their property prior to a potentially destructive rainfall."

Sandbag Retailers:
Oak View: Builder’s Mart – 300 N. Ventura Ave. 805-649-1975
Ojai: Ojai Lumber – 1900 E. Ojai Ave. 805-646-1419
Ventura: Green Thumb Nursery – 1899 S. Victoria Ave. 805-642-8517
Ventura: Avenue Hardware – 481 N. Ventura Ave. 805-643-4744
Ventura: Lowe’s Home Improvement – 500 S. Mills Rd. 805-675-8800

Ventura County Sheriff's Department - (805) 654-3593
Local Ojai Emergency Office: City of Ojai- (805) 646-1414

VCSD Press Release (PDF) on Expected Winter Storm
The National Weather Service is predicting a major rain event for Ventura County over the weekend with the heaviest rain expected Saturday night and Sunday. The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) is monitoring storm weather conditions and preparing a staffing plan for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) should the need arise. Additionally, Watershed Protection District, Ventura County Fire, Animal Regulation and American Red Cross are also in pre-storm preparations and are coordinating with Sheriff’s OES.

Los Padres National Forest information center - (805) 961-5770

Maps & Weather:
Ventura County Storm Watch System
ACME Mapper - select 'Topo' for a very detailed topographic map
Accuweather - California Watches and Warnings
Ojai Weather Center

Media:
Channel 10 Ojai
KVTA AM 1510
Google News "Ojai Storm" search
Ojai Valley News
Ventura County Star

Blogs:
Ken Clark, Accuweather
The Doc Searls Weblog
Robert Peake
Santa Paula Blog
BlogaBarbara
Santa Barbara EdHat
A Change In The Wind
Kit Stoltz @ Grist
Hello Mary Lu
The Imaginal Institute
"ojai storm" photos on Flickr