Storm Response Recap and Updates
This week the Town experienced a significant wind and rainstorm. The State of California, the County of Santa Clara, and the Town of Los Altos Hills declared a state of emergency, which facilitated a focused and effective response to the storm. The Town activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Wednesday, January 4, at 1:00 pm and Public Works teams were busy all-day Wednesday into Thursday morning responding to issues, including downed trees, blocked drains, failed pumps, and more.
The Town’s Public Works Crew discovered a sinkhole on Friday, January 6th morning on Page Mill Road north of Paseo Del Robles Lane. The southbound lane on Page Mill Road is closed. Expect delays and reduce your speed. There is one way traffic on Page Mill Road. Traffic control is in place until we review and resolve the issues.
How did your household fare in the storm? Are you ready for the next round of wind and rain? The National Weather Service expects more storms this weekend.
- The Town sent out several messages to residents with information on preparing for the storm, staying safe, and reporting incidents—did you receive them? Get notifications from the Town via AlertSCC, Twitter, Facebook, and Nextdoor. Sign up to receive emergency notifications here and be sure to follow the Town on social media. For a list of messages that were sent, please click here.
- If your household relies on electrical medical equipment, make a plan now for backup power.
- Charge up your electric vehicles ahead of the storm, charge your battery packs and phones, and fill automobile gas tanks.
- Have a Go Bag for each household member, including pets.
- Make an emergency communications plan for your household.
- The saturated ground elevates risks of mudslides and falling trees. Monitor conditions at your home and evacuate your home if you feel unsafe. (If no danger arises, your household had a good evacuation practice.)
- Know at least Two Ways Out of your neighborhood. Find your home on community.zonehaven.com and review your evacuation routes.
Flood Preparedness
The Santa Clara Valley Water District shared this annual mailer to residents and businesses in the FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) in Santa Clara County. It is intended to reach residents and property owners living near creeks and rivers at potential risk of flooding and explains how Valley Water works with communities to reduce flood risks. Please use it as your reference guide on how to prepare for a flood.
Upcoming Class on Emergency Preparedness and Response
This week’s storms remind us how important it is to take responsibility for our own safety, to help our neighbors, and to prepare for disasters. Take the opportunity to learn emergency preparedness skills and how to help your household and neighbors in an emergency event when the Santa Clara County Fire Department hosts the next training session for Community Emergency Response Team. Participants will learn disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, fire suppression, light search and rescue, and terrorism awareness. This series of classes will run January 25-March 25, with online classes on Wednesday evenings plus Saturday in-person “skills days” on March 11th and March 25th. Get the details and register at https://Jan2023HybridCERT.eventbrite.com