Storm Preparations Underway In Lamorinda; Where To Get Sandbags

LAMORINDA, CA — Public Works crews with the cities of Lafayette and Orinda and the Town of Moraga have been working hard to clear storm drains and help prepare for what is expected to be a major storm rolling in Wednesday and Thursday.

Following last week's storm that culminated Saturday, there were flooded roads and creeks were running full, the Moraga Police Department said. A blown electrical transformer caused a power outage around the Rheem Center. The Town of Moraga brought in additional Public Works staff, who are monitoring streets and clearing drain blockages, where possible.

"However, we are dealing with a large amount of water from the continuing rains," Moraga police said.

When there is standing water on local streets as there was Saturday, police urge residents to stay home and off the roads.

"If you have to go out, please drive slowly and safely," police said. "Remember, your car potentially loses traction when driving through standing water. Use caution and drive defensively!!!"

Many teen drivers have yet to experience these conditions so it is a good time to discuss safe driving with them, according to police.

Community members should stay out of creeks and streams, which are likely to become full with fast-moving floodwaters, police said.

Here's Where To Get Sandbags In Lamorinda

Sand and sandbags are available at the following locations in Lamorinda:

Lafayette

• Public Works Department Corp Yard, 3001 Camino Diablo
• Mt. Diablo Blvd @ Village Center

Moraga/Orinda

Orinda/Moraga Fire Department Stations

• Station No. 41: 1280 Moraga Way, Moraga
• Station No. 43: 20 Via Las Cruces, Orinda
• Station No. 44: 295 Orchard Road, Orinda

Moraga

• Rancho Laguna Park

Atmospheric River May Result In Loss Of Human Life, Forecasters Say

The entire Bay Area will be under a flood watch beginning Wednesday morning due to a heavy storm system expected to be as bad or worse than Saturday's deluge and which will likely result in the loss of human life, according to a dire forecast update from the National Weather Service.

The update issued Monday afternoon included five key points, with the first one noting a "threat to life likely during this storm." Mudslides are anticipated due to saturated soil, and rapidly rising creeks and streams will pose additional dangers.

A meteorologist shared the following observations in the forecast about the coming 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. The impacts will include widespread flooding, roads washing out, hillside collapsing, trees down (potentially full groves), 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."

The forecast includes an updated threat matrix it classifies as "extreme risk" for conditions expected Wednesday and Thursday, including increased wind gusts, a flood watch that now includes the entire Bay Area and an added forecast Friday through Sunday after the big storm for roughly 1-2 inches of rain in most areas.

Wednesday through Thursday morning will be the worst of the storm, with heavy rain and strong winds with gusts of 35-55 mph in most areas, with stronger gusts at higher elevations.

The flood watch will be in effect from Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon, with rain amounts expected from 2-4 inches in the valleys, 3-6 inches in the foothills and 8-10 inches in the coastal mountains.

Tuesday was expected to have little to no rain for the region and represents the last opportunity to clean up from Saturday's storm before the next one hits, forecasters said.

For the latest forecast updates, visit Weather.gov/bayarea.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.