The city of Long Beach’s stormdrain system was overwhelmed yesterday by the sheer amount and force of the rainfall, according to Stormwater program officer Anthony Arevalo today.
Arevalo said that the rainfall seen yesterday was greater than a 10-year rain event and it simply exceeded what the stormdrain system could handle. Crews worked through the night to clear drains and pumps so that they will be ready for today’s storm, which is expected to hit in the early afternoon and could be far stronger than Tuesday’s.
“Everything we can do, we’ve been doing,” Arevalo said. “We’re trying to go to all the known areas that have flooded. We’ve got crews all over the city, basically just waiting.”
Arevalo said that many drains and pumps had to be cleared after yesterday’s storm, including one near Wilson High School that caused severe flooding when it was clogged with a mattress and heavy debris. That drain and others like it have been cleared in anticipation for today.
But with a storm looming overhead that could be stronger than what we’ve seen thus far, it is harrowing to hear Arevalo’s assessment of the drain systems’ performance yesterday.
“It was just too much for the city to handle,” he said.
Crews are still out clearing pumps and drains as we speak.
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