By Mike Wood

Staff writer

 

Monday, December 16 (1:30 p.m.): After Rossmoor navigated a strong storm the weekend before Thanksgiving, it’s a reminder of how important it is to be prepared.

An atmospheric river storm wreaked havoc predominantly in the North Bay, with the brunt hitting this area on Friday, Nov. 22. Knowing this would be a significant storm, Rossmoor had prepared before the brunt hit, particularly with drainage.

That Friday, Mutual Operations had an after-hours landscape crew on duty until about 8 p.m., Landscape Manager John Tawaststjerna said. He dispatched crews to any clogged drains, and contractors were utilized if snaking was needed.

“MOD monitored the large problem drains all day beforehand and into the night in between calls,” Tawaststjerna said. “We have also been cleaning all v-ditches and drains for about a month in preparation.”

As storms have increased in volatility in recent years, all Mutuals have been upgrading drainage systems and pre-snaking drains if they think there is an issue, Tawaststjerna said, adding that they all have been addressing tree maintenance as well in preparation for winter.

“Proper pruning and removals will always help us be more prepared,” he said.

Residents also can call the Work Order Desk at 1-925-988-7650 or by email at workorder@rossmoor.com during work hours several days in advance of a storm to make sure their drains are clear around their unit, Tawaststjerna said.

There are several ways for residents to be ready, too.

Residents can prepare for storms by having a few sandbags ready in front of their unit, Tawaststjerna said. The city of Walnut Creek opened five sandbag stations in late October for the winter months, for use by residents and local businesses.

The site closest to Rossmoor is Lancaster Park near Orchard Lane; the others are Rudgear Park, Howe Homestead Park, Larkey Park and Heather Farm Park’s north end parking lot. Go to https://tinyurl.com/3anv9vsn for Walnut Creek Public Works’ flood preparedness and sandbag station webpage.

As fall temperatures dropped, there have been numerous calls to Mutual Operations and Securitas for heaters not properly working. HVAC systems should be checked annually, said Jeroen Wright, Mutual Operations director.

Before temperatures get extreme, many websites advise to time those checks for twice a year – in the spring for air conditioners and fall for the heater or furnace — before residents are going to need them. PG&E provides service to ignite a pilot light for residential gas customers. Go to www.pge.com/en/account/service-requests.html for information about service calls.

PG&E offers these tips, among others, for preparing for storm season and potential power outages:

• Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.
• Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. Keep extra batteries on hand.
• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone as a backup. Having a portable charging device helps to keep one’s cellphone running.

PG&E has these webpages with information and advice on safety and weather-impacted issues:

• Severe weather safety: https://tinyurl.com/3kntf4kp
• Outage preparedness and support: https://tinyurl.com/mw5a4u93
• Safety action center: www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com
• PG& E’s outage map is at https://www.pge.com (click on Outages & Safety and Outage Center). PG&E updates the map in real time, including status information about a current outage and an estimated time for restoration of service. Residents also can call PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.

The Rossmoor Emergency Preparedness Organization (EPO) also provides resources on its website. Link: www.rossmoorepo.org