If forecasters’ predictions are correct, this El Niño season will be a strong one, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
As of September 10, the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center predicted a 95 percent chance that El Niño will continue through winter of 2015-16 and weaken into next spring, with minimal rain rates during fall and increasing into late fall and winter.
In response, Glendora will host two town hall meetings Wednesday, October 7 in the Glendora Public Library’s Bidwell Forum, 140 S. Glendora Ave. The first meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with lunch provided. The second meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with dinner served at 5:45 p.m.
City officials will discuss with residents the condition of the hillsides, El Niño’s potential impact and more.
Anticipating a strong El Niño, search and rescue teams with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department began swift water rescue drills recently.
Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Land-based operations with 36 search and rescue specialists were conducted in flood control channels from October 3 to October 4 with the goal of rescuing victims without having to enter the water.
“Swift-water rescue responses are the highest level of risk to the public safety agencies who respond. One-third of all swift-water deaths are rescuers who attempt to save someone from a river or channel,” officials said in a written statement.
A strong storm September 15 caused flood control channels to swell with rain, carrying two people in the Los Angeles River near Cypress Park. Another person and a dog were rescued up river from the first operation.
That same day in Pomona, two people were swept away near the 2100 block of Pomona Boulevard. Los Angeles County Firefighters made multiple attempts to pluck the victims out of the river, eventually finding success in the San Jose Creek in Industry.
