A powerful winter storm brewing off the coast will impact our region through the end of the week, bringing with it heavy rainfall, high winds and the potential for flooding, rockslides, power outages and other dangerous conditions.
“Damaging winds with gusts up to 70 mph are possible across Northern California…with the highest winds expected along the coast and high terrain,” the National Weather Service wrote in an announcement. “These winds are likely to produce numerous power outages and tree damage in the most impacted regions.”
This major storm has been classified as a bomb cyclone, a term used to describe the rapid intensification of a cyclone, which can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass. This cyclone is pulling in an atmospheric river, meaning we’ll see some heavy rainfall and potential snow in higher elevations over the next few days.
The heaviest rainfall is expected for the North Coast on Wednesday and Thursday, with the NWS predicting that most areas will see between two and five inches of rain every 24 hours through Friday. A flood watch is in effect for our area through Friday evening.
The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services posted a few tips on their Facebook page:
With the strong storm surge approaching, we urge everyone to prepare for power outages, which means assembling a survival kit, making an emergency plan, and being informed. Especially for those dependent on electric medical and assistive devices we would like to remind you to:
🔹 Fully charge backup batteries and keep medical devices charged.
🔹 If you use an electric wheelchair or scooter, have a manual wheelchair for back-up.
🔹 Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment. Also, label equipment and attach laminated instructions for equipment use.
🔹 Know how to connect and start a back-up power supply for your essential medical equipment.
🔹 Have enough water and food that doesn’t need refrigeration for every member of your household for at least three days.
🔹 Create a personal disaster plan with family and caregivers for how to meet your needs during a power outage.
🔹 If you are a person who is vision impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, plan ahead for someone to convey essential emergency information to you if you are unable to use the TV or radio.
🔹 If you use a personal care attendant obtained from an agency, check to see if the agency has special provisions for emergencies (e.g., providing services at another location should an evacuation be ordered).
Prepare to keep medicines cold
🔹 A closed refrigerator will maintain a cool temperature for 2-3 hours.
🔹 To prepare for longer periods without power, remove the refrigerated medications from the refrigerator as soon as possible and place medications into an ice chest or small cooler packed with ice, cooling bricks or cold packs.
🔹 Use a thermometer to monitor medication temperatures to ensure they’re safe to use.
🔹 Avoid freezing the medication by making sure it does not directly touch the ice.
To check current power outages for your area visit, pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outage-tools/outage-map.
Follow US National Weather Service Eureka California for current weather updates and forecasts.
Sand Bag Information:
(updated 11/19/24 at 9:20 am)
Strong wind and rain will impact our area beginning later Tuesday, Nov. 19, enhancing the probability of weather-related power outages, downed trees creating access issues and the possibility of flooding tomorrow into Saturday. This is one of the most significant storms we’ve experienced this season, and the combination of saturated soils and high winds increase the possibility of impacts.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to prepare themselves and their property for potential power outages and for the possibility of wind and water damage before the storm arrives. If your property has a history of flooding, sandbags may be able to help divert the water. Sandbag supplies are available for purchase at many local businesses including:
𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱
• Hensell Materials, 4475 Broadway in Eureka (bags and sand available)
• Randall Sand & Gravel, 214 West River Ln. in Garberville (bags and sand available)
𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆
• Eureka Ready Mix, locations in Arcata, Eureka, Alton and Blue Lake (sand only, no bags available)
• Kernan Construction, 1195 Hatchery Rd. in Blue Lake (sand only, no bags available)
• Mercer Frasier, 200 Dinsmore Dr. in Fortuna (sand only, no bags available)
• Powell Landscaping Materials, 1955 Hilfiker Ln. in Eureka (sand only, no bags available)
• Miller Farms Nursery, 1828 Central Ave. in McKinleyville (sand only, no bags available)
𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆
• Nilsen Feed, 1593 Market St. in Ferndale (bags only, no sand available)
• Dazey's Supply, 690 Thomas Dr. in Garberville and 5307 Boyd Rd. in Arcata (bags only, no sand available)
• United Rentals, 3132 Jacobs Ave in Eureka (bags only, no sand available)
• Root 101 Nursery, 350 Sprowl Creek Rd. in Garberville (bags only, no sand available)
• Pierson Building Center, 4100 Broadway in Eureka (bags only, no sand available)
• McKinleyville Community Services District, 1656 Sutter Rd. in McKinleyville (bags only, no sand available)
We have also confirmed that sandbags are available at the following city locations, free of charge:
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀
Free supplies are intended for residents of the incorporated cities listed below and are available in limited quantities, while supplies last. Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels to fill bags.
• City of Eureka Corp Yard at 945 W 14th St., available anytime
• City of Arcata Corp Yard at 600 South G. St., available anytime
• City of Ferndale at the Francis Street Bridge on Francis St., available anytime
• City of Fortuna, behind the skating rink at Rohner Park located at 9 Park St., available anytime
• City of Rio Dell, behind City Hall at 675 Wildwood Ave., available anytime
• Blue Lake City Hall at 111 Greenwood Ave., available anytime
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀
Check out this video from the California Department of Water Resources on how to fill and place sandbags: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fa8ApB_TFc
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀
Be sure to keep your essential devices and phones charged in the event of power outages. To learn more on how to prepare for a power outage or for more winter storm season preparedness tips, visit: www.listoscalifornia.org/stormseason/
Visit the Humboldt OES Facebook page for up-to-date information.
Stay safe, Humboldt!
