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As Long Beach continues to prepare for the potential impacts associated with El Niño, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) is working with multiple city departments to inform, educate, and prepare the city’s residents, according to an LFBD release issued Thursday.
Over the next few months, multiple storms are expected to bring periods of rain to the area that have the potential to significantly impact the community.
Swiftwater Rescue Teams will continue to conduct patrols along the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River banks as expected rain levels meet the thresholds necessary to deploy these teams. The Long Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has also been activated to provide additional support to elderly and disabled residents that need sandbags, according to the release.
The LBFD is asking locals who have observed areas prone to flooding during the recent storms over the last few days, to “please take advantage of the “blue sky” conditions between the storms to mitigate these conditions.”
For the next few months, sand will be available at the City of Long Beach Public Works lot located at 1651 San Francisco Avenue off of Esther Street, while sand and sandbags are available at the following fire stations:
- Long Beach Fire Station 7 located at 2295 Elm Avenue
- Long Beach Fire Station 12 located at 1199 East Artesia Boulevard
- Long Beach Fire Station 13 located at 2475 Adriatic Avenue
- Long Beach Fire Station 14 located at 5200 Eliot Street
Sandbags are available at all Long Beach Fire Stations and at Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters located at 2100 East Ocean Boulevard in the Junipero Parking Lot and at the 72nd Place Lifeguard Station. Sandbags are limited to 10 bags per person per visit.
The LBFD asks residents to please keep in mind that sand and sandbags are subject to availability, while sand will be replenished at the above locations on an as-needed basis during normal business hours. Restocking will take place Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM unless an emanant event occurs.
To meet additional needs, the Long Beach Fire Department in partnership with Public Works, Long Beach CERT and Long Beach Search and Rescue have announced that SANDBAG SATURDAYS will commence January 16.
Residents are encouraged to come and fill their own sandbags with the assistance of CERT and Search and Rescue personnel at three scheduled Sandbag Saturday events from 8:00AM to 1:00PM. Sand and sandbags will be available free on site.
- January 16th at Long Beach Fire Station 1 located at 100 Magnolia Avenue
- January 30th at Long Beach Fire Station 11 located at 160 East Market Street
- February 13th at Long Beach Fire Station 5 located at 7575 East Wardlow Road
If there are specific questions regarding Sandbag Saturdays or if elderly and/or disabled residents are in need of additional assistance with sandbags, please contact the Long Beach CERT Hotline at 562.570.2525.