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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2015 21 Many scientists and weather forecasters are predicting extraordinary amounts of rainfall this winter due to the El Nino weather pattern building in the Pacific Ocean. Bill Patzert, climate scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena said, "This episode could be historic." Residents should take action to protect themselves and their property. Below are several preventative measures that were highlighted in recent issues of the LA Times and Riverside Press Enterprise newspapers. In and around your home: 1. If you have known roof leaks, have them repaired now. Repair wood trim and fascia boards along the edge of your roof. Cracks in wood allow moisture to stay and promotes rot and splitting. 2. Clean out your gutters and downspouts, and then check them again after the first rain. Look for breaks and make sure that the gutters are snug against the roofline. Check www.hometips.com. 3 . Make sure that water coming down your down spouts drains away from your home. Check the drains in the ground on each side of your home to make sure that they drain toward the street in front of your home. 4. Consider flood insurance, even if you're not in a high-risk area. FEMA Region IX, which covers California, has stated that 20 percent of people who file claims come from non-high risk areas. Homeowner policies typically do not cover flood damage, and it takes 30 days for any new flood insurance policy to become effective. 5. Flood waters and mudflows will most likely disrupt utilities such as electricity, water, and sewer. Plan on having sufficient emergency food and water to last at least seven, but preferably 14 days. Don't forget emergency food for your pets. 6. Have a plan if toilets are inoperative, which can be a 5-gallon bucket with garbage bag inserts. 7. Make sure you have fresh batteries for flashlights and battery- driven lanterns. Having a small transistor radio that can receive weather updates would be useful. 8. You may want to invest in a generator, but be aware there are safety precautions in their use. 9. Often, during exceptionally heavy rainfall periods, ants or other bugs will gain entry into your house. Consider bringing in an exterminator now to address that problem. 10. Rain storms often result in water getting onto garage floors. Raise cardboard boxes and other items that you don't want to get wet by placing them on wooden pieces of 2x4 lumber or available wood scraps. 11. Don't forget any items placed in outdoor storage sheds, are they up off of the floor? 12. Secure any important documents in the cloud or on a thumb drive. Around outside of your house: 1. Residents with embankments and sloped ground on their property should take precautions to have them covered with tarps or very heavy duty contractor-grade plastic sheets and weighted at the top of the slope either sandbags or heavy bags of mulch that can be used in the spring. 2. Stock up on sandbags to protect entrance doors to your home. The city of Beaumont may have a limited number of sandbags available free to residents, either empty or sand-filled. Also, check www. sandbagstore.com, www.uline.com, www.trafficsafetywarehouse. com and other websites. 3. Reinforce your fencing if needed and store or tie down anything that might blow and cause damage in the expected high winds. Cover glass-topped tables with plywood secured with rope or strong cord. 4. Extreme amounts of rainfall may cause excess water to enter the soil under your driveway where the construction joints have cracked. This excess water can saturate your soil under the driveway slabs which could crack your slabs from vehicle wheel loads. Consider getting a grout gun and applying mastic, which acts similar to grout, to keep the construction cracks dry from excess rainfall. In Summary: The Four Seasons Resident's Emergency Handbook, developed by the Four Seasons Emergency Preparedness Program and mailed to each residence in 2013, has many valuable tips to help you prepare for emergencies. Have a plan available, and make sure all family members are aware of it. Put together emergency preparedness and disaster supply kits for your home and car. FEMA, the California Department of Water Resources and the Auto Club are just three of several organizations that list important things to have on hand. Check out www.floodprepareCA.com, www.ladbs.org, www.ready.gov, www.aaa.com. Remember, it wasn't raining when Noah started building the Ark! ~ Fred Weck, EPC Co-Chair Emergency preparedness committee

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