Dublin Officials Encourage Preparation As New Storm Approaches

DUBLIN, CA — With a another storm on the way later this week, record rainfall totals from a storm that hit the area New Year's Eve caused numerous road closures due to mudslides and flooding with the worst yet to come, officials said.

In Dublin, where record rainfall was reported during the New Year's Eve storm, the city encouraged residents to use Tuesday to prepare for the pineapple express-fueled storm expected to hit the Bay Area Wednesday and Thursday.

City of Dublin offers storm preparedness tips

"If your home or business experienced flooding last Saturday, you should anticipate it happening again. Water flow is expected to exceed channel capacity," the city said in a social media posting Tuesday, Jan. 3.

In a news release on the city's website, residents were advised to stay off all trails due to potential mudslides and overflowing creeks.

"Currently, drivers along Dublin Boulevard between Silvergate Drive and Inspiration Drive will experience a lane shift due to a potential mudslide," the city said before offering the following storm safety tips.

• Stay off all trails due to potential mudslides and overflowing creeks.
• Stay home if you are able to do so. However, keep your car fueled or, if electric, powered. If electric power is cut off, gas stations may be inoperable.
• Keep your cell phone charged. Have a car charger on hand.
• Check your emergency supplies (first aid kit, essential medicines, cash, food, water, non-electric can opener, portable radio, flashlights, and spare batteries) and ensure they are in air-tight bags and in handy locations.
• Clear debris from storm drains. Keep a rake on hand to clear debris that may clog storm drains during rain storms.
• Secure or remove items that can blow around.
• Keep garbage cans and cars at least one foot from the curb to avoid blocking storm water flows.

"Dublin Police will issue alerts when necessary during the storms," the city said.

Residents can also text '94568' or 'Dublin' to 888777 to receive Nixle alerts and can also register for AC Alerts.

Upcoming storm likely to bring additional flooding, mudslides

While only light rain is forecast for Tuesday, the later storm is likely to be as powerful or more so than the New Year’s Eve Storm, the National Weather Service said, adding that it expects similar impacts on the area. Soils already saturated by last weekend's downpours will only intensify the new storm's impacts, forecasters said.

“Flood Watches have been posted across the Bay Area and much of NorCal Wednesday into Thursday with the next atmospheric river,” NWS Bay Area said.

Downpours will be heaviest late Wednesday into early Thursday and will be accompanied by strong winds. Scattered showers are expected to linger Thursday into early Friday.

NWS Bay Area said totals starting Tuesday night are expected to bring 4.5 to 6.5 inches in the Santa Lucia mountains and the Big Sur coast.

Coastal mountains in the North Bay are forecast for 4.5 to 6.5 inches, and the Santa Cruz Mountains and northern Monterey Bay will see 3.5 to 6 inches.

The interior North Bay is expected to get 2.75 to 5 inches. San Francisco, along with the East Bay and South Bay areas, are forecast for 1.5 to 3 inches.

A high wind warning has also been issued from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday. Strong wings with gusts of 35 to 55 miles per hour are expected, with stronger gusts in the mountains that could lead to downed trees and power lines. Rain is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Loss of human life 'likely' forecaster says

One meteorologist even went so far as to say the storm could "likely result in the loss of human life.”

According to the article “Forecasters say mild weather Tuesday only the calm before major storm Wednesday” by Austin Turner of the East Bay Times, officials warned Bay Area residents to use Tuesday as a preparation day for a brutal storm

“To put it simply, this will likely be one of the most impactful systems on a widespread scale that this meteorologist has seen in a long while,” a National Weather Service report said Monday evening. “The impacts will include widespread flooding, roads washing out, hillsides collapsing, trees down, widespread power outages, immediate disruption to commerce, and the worst of all, likely loss of human life.

“This is truly a brutal system that we are looking at and needs to be taken seriously.”

NWS meteorologists told the East Bay Times Tuesday morning that while the upcoming storm could perhaps yield a little less rain than the New Year’s Eve weather event, vicious winds could create havoc throughout the region.

“If you were impacted by the New Year’s Eve storm, meaning if your property was flooded, there’s a good likelihood that the same creeks and streams that responded last time respond this time,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Walbrun.

The NWS advised residents to make sure vehicles were gassed up in case of evacuation mandates, cell phones were charged, emergency alerts were activated and to prepare for potential power outages.

Sandbags still available

Dublin residents looking for sandbags can still find them at the City of Dublin Corporation Yard 5709 Scarlett Court, the city said.

Since the city-run locations are self service, those looking to get sandbags should bring a shovel and someone to help, if needed.

"Please limit the number of bags to 10 or fewer per household. If you haven't needed sandbags during past heavy rains, please consider leaving bags for those at higher risk," the city said adding that residents should bring a shovel for faster service.

The city is encouraging residents to report flooding or downed trees to the Dublin Police at (925) 462-1212. Power outages should be reported to Pacific Gas and Electric Company at (800) 743-5002.

For damaged power lines or electrical equipment, always call 911, the city said.

Storm preparation tips are available on the city of Dublin website here.

Read more at the East Bay Times.

Bay City News contributed to this story.

Submit your storm photos for publication to Kim Harris by clicking here.