|
A large limb came down Sunday and damaged a fence at Robert Rey Garcia Jr. Funeral Services on East Santa Paula Street but spared the historic Victorian home. |
Wild weather: Sunday not as wet as expected but it was windy
February 03, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
It wasn’t as wet as expected but it sure was windy Sunday leaving downed trees throughout the region but little damage in Santa Paula.
The strong Pacific storm was expected to bring up to 4 inches of rain in the mountains and 1 to 2 inches in the valleys but stopped at about 1 inch, the average reported in Santa Paula.
But for a time the rain came down hard causing concerns of flash flooding.
The National Weather Service had issued a statement on the potential impacts associated with the storm including roadway flooding and mud/debris flows near burn areas, dangerous winter driving conditions in the mountains, and damaging winds with downed trees and power lines.
The period of moderate to heavy rain NWS forecast for Sunday also noted could include isolated thunderstorms and possible waterspouts.
But the ferocity of the winds were still a surprise with almost 40 mile per hour gusts in Santa Paula that downed trees and left many yards and streets looking like Mother Nature had dropped a box of match sticks. Many front porches were cleared of furniture and decorations and outdoor potted plants were toppled by the wind.
The 4-year drought dried out trees that made them prone to shedding branches — even trunk splitting — during the height of the wind gusts but Interim Public Works Director Brian Yanez said the city weathered the storm with minimal damage.
“We had no drainage problems reported or flooding over the weekend,” as the Streets Division “has been proactive on maintaining our storm drains and keeping them clear of debris.”
But the winds were another issue: “We did have several calls regarding downed limbs all over town, with only one causing property damage at Robert Garcia Rey Mortuary Jr. Funeral Services” on the corner of East Santa Paula and 9th streets where a large branch hit the decorative fence but spared the historic Victorian home.
Yanez said trees also were toppled: “Two palm trees went down on Harvard Boulevard, one by Elisabeth Court and the other by Craig Drive,” in the western portion of Santa Paula.
A palm tree behind the Glen Tavern Inn on Mill Street also was a casualty and although it was feared it had hit an apartment complex facing Santa Barbara Street Yanez said there was no damage.
Ventura County overall took a pounding with power outages affecting as many as 20,000 residents including those living in the West Telegraph Road area where a power outage lasted for about 90 minutes in the early afternoon.
One woman in San Diego County was killed when a large tree collapsed on her car and highways and surface streets throughout Ventura County were closed due to fallen trees and power lines but no injuries were reported.
As of Monday morning Central Avenue between Rose and Santa Clara was still closed due to fallen power poles and lines.
Santa Paula Fire Captain Jerry Byrum said although there were no incidents within the city that could be classified as major there were two outside city limits that were serious.
On Toland Road a tree that also brought down a power line smashed a parked car.
On Orr Road off Briggs Road, “Five poles and power lines were down…one pole fell and brought four others with it. That,” said Byrum, “was a mess!”
People must be careful during high winds and their aftermath: “Try to stay indoors but if you’re outside watch for flying debris and don’t touch any line — any line — on the ground, ever. If you see a line down call 911 immediately.”
And that also goes for any trees or structures that look unstable.
“If it looks like a collapse is imminent,” said Byrum, “call 911.”
Byrum said if driving during wind events watch for traffic signals that may be out and approach those intersections as four-way stops as the law requires.
During storm events check www.spweather.net and www.vcemergency.gov for up to the minute information. Other sources are the National Weather Service website and other media.
|
Santa Paula Firefighters responded to numerous wind related events Sunday including a downed tree and power lines on a car parked on Toland Road east of the city.
|
