MALIBU—On Saturday, December 12, the city of Malibu will be holding a free presentation on how to prepare for El Nino conditions, including heavy rains, thunderstorms, mudslides, and flooding throughout the winter of 2015-2016.
According to the city of Malibu website, meteorologists predict there is a greater than 95 percent chance of El Niño conditions in Southern California during the 2015-2016 winter season. The El Niño conditions involve “increased rainfall and winds, along with large wave action, which could result in flooding, debris flows, landslides, coastal erosion, coastal structure damage, and more, particularly in canyons and burn areas.”
The “El Niño is Coming: Are you Prepared?” presentation is set to take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Multi-purpose Room in Malibu City Hall located on 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd.
The presentation will include information regarding what the city and other government agencies have been doing to prepare for El Niño. There will also be discussions on how to make family emergency plans, and ways to prepare homes and property under El Niño conditions.
The city of Malibu has been working alongside outside agencies, including Caltrans, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, Los Angeles County Public Works, Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors, State Parks, National Parks, Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and local utility companies, in order to coordinate preventative maintenance efforts.
As stated in a city of Malibu press release, the city has been performing precautionary measures, which consists of “cleaning and clearing all catch basins, pipes, culverts and waterways of debris, checking flood control devices and valves, checking stream and creek banks, patching and filling cracks in pavement, securing sign posts, and trimming trees.” Malibu has been “stocking up on and staging materials and safety equipment, such as K-rails, sandbags, barricades, plastic sheeting, flashing beacons and traffic control devices, street signs, posts and hardware, and water pumping equipment.”
The El Niño presentation will feature representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the insurance industry, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. City staff members from the Emergency Services and Public Works Departments are also expected to attend.
While the event is free and open to the public, space is limited. Residents are asked to RSVP with Brad Davis, Emergency Services Coordinator, at (310) 456-2489, ext. 260 or BDavis@malibucity.org.
Canyon News reached out to City of Malibu’s Emergency Services Coordinator Brad Davis, who stated that at this point there have been 25 RSVPS and he expects several more to show up without notification or to confirm last-minute.
For additional information on how residents can prepare for El Niño conditions, the city has offered a preparation checklist on http://malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/12390.