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Daxon: The rains came – were you prepared?

March 23, 2023

Probably like most of you, I don’t recall this much rain in Brea, or storms called “atmospheric rivers.” I’d like those rivers to dry up for a long while.

Fortunately so far in Brea, we haven’t had any streets flooding or houses sliding down hillsides.

“Our staff has been monitoring all storm drain inlets, making sure they stay free of debris,” said Will Wenz, Brea’s maintenance supervisor. He added that there have been no reports of rockslides or mudslides in Brea Canyon.

And potholes are usually filled within 24-hours of being reported to [email protected] or 714-990-7691, he said.

If you have areas of your property that could flood or start a slide during heavy rains, be prepared and pick up free sandbags at any Brea fire station or the city yard, 545 North Berry Street. You can have 10 bags per household.

Lisa Keyworth, Brea’s emergency preparedness coordinator, said now is the time to get prepared for emergencies.

“Being prepared for any disaster should include preparing a plan, building an (emergency) kit and staying informed,” she said.

The city’s website is an excellent source of emergency information. In an emergency, especially an ongoing one, information is frequently updated on site and the city’s hotline, 714-990-7732, Keyworth said.

It is also recommended that we register with AlertOC.org. It is the county’s communication system that informs residents and businesses when there is an emergency that could affect your home, family or business. You can sign up your cell phones, landlines, email, text messages and TTY devices to receive AlertOC messages.

Also available is the Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, a national alert system that sends area alerts through local cell towers. That’s how the Amber Alerts arrive on our cell phones.

While I doubt we have to worry about being stuck in a home half buried in snow, wildfires, earthquakes and floods could, and have, happened here. We need to be prepared to be on our own for at least three days, and it could be longer before responders can arrive.

Sounds scary, but it is a wake-up call for all of us to prepare an emergency kit with canned and packaged food, medicine, one gallon of drinking water per person per day, prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines your family needs. And don’t forget to include your pets’ food, treats and meds.

The city’s website has a comprehensive list of all else you should include in your emergency kit, including flashlights and batteries, a camp stove, sanitary supplies, a first aid kit with instructions, candles, matches and large trash bags, to name a few of the listed items.

For several years, I’ve kept what I call my earthquake kit in my car’s trunk. I don’t have a camp stove in it, but it does include several items on the city’s list, including sturdy shoes, a light jacket and a wind-up radio.

But having emergencies supplies at home or in your vehicle is fine, but what about at your place of work? Keyworth recommends having emergency kits in workplaces, and that means more than a first aid kit. She is available to speak on emergency preparedness to groups of 10 or more, including HOAs, businesses and churches, to name a few.

Also consider taking the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training offered by the city. It is only six sessions and offered at no cost. The spring class is on now, but watch for sign-ups for the fall sessions.

You will learn disaster medical aid, terrorism awareness, light search and rescue, proper use of a fire extinguisher, how to spot hazards in the area and much more.

Let’s all be prepared!

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].

Orange County Register

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Daxon: The rains came – were you prepared?

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