As we brace for El Nino storm number 3, here in Lakewood (near Long Beach, CA) we're faced with more evacuations, flash flooding for the poor residents that were affected by the Station Fires just a few months ago and 2 to 3 inches of rain per hour.
Some of the people in the burn area, although under mandatory evacuations, still refuse to leave their homes for fear that they will return to nothing but mud and debris. However, one must take into account that by staying after being told to leave, puts our most precious resources at risk. Our firefighters, our swift water rescue teams and police officers STILL must put their lives at risk if the remaining residents are somehow consumed by the walls of mud and/or water approach their homes at lightning speeds. It somehow doesn't seem fair that some put the value of property above the lives of our men and women who must come to their aide when they realize that once the rain starts, it's already too late. Residents MUST take into account that once the mud begins its downhill journey, simply hoping in their cars only complicates the matter at hand. Roads will be washed out, streets flooded, storm drains completely blocked with runoff debris making it impossible to escape. They cannot turn around. Cell phone usage to contact emergency personnel will be pointless as the rains have knocked out grids all over the Los Angeles area.
My plea to my fellow Californians: If you are asked to leave, LEAVE. Help the firefighters help you by not putting them in a position to save you after you've made the decision to defy the law. They're asking you to leave because a flash flood, mud slides and heave rain is IMMINENT NOT SIMPLY POSSIBLE!!
Here's a little bit of the beginning storm yesterday just as it started to hail!
Stay safe!
Chris & Cathy
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