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Southland Residents Stack Sandbags, Clear Storm Drains In Preparation For Heavy Rainfall

GLENDORA (CBSLA.com) — Forecasters predict that a series of storms on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will bring widespread rain, mountain snow, and gusty winds to Southern California.

The storm system expected to arrive Tuesday is prompting concerns that burn areas will be at risk for flash flooding with mud and debris flows. Forecasts indicate that the Colby Fire burn area in Glendora could receive 1-2 inches of rain on Tuesday, including possibly intense downpours of a half-inch per hour. The Jan., 2014 fire scorched 1,992 acres and destroyed five homes.

Authorities reminded residents on Monday to remove vehicles, trash bins and other obstructions from streets -- both to ensure access for emergency vehicles and to prevent the items from being damaged or washed away in a mudslide.

City officials reminded residents not to cross flowing water or mud, and protect themselves from debris flows on their property by going to the highest point in the house or the middle of a single-story residence.

Glendora residents stacked sandbags, erected K-rails, and cleared debris from in and around their homes in anticipation of the storm systems.

"We've had mud coming down - up onto the wall and coming down the street, so we thought, well, this time we're going to put some barricades up," Glendora resident Jim Griffin said.

In Ventura County, firefighters have been busy canvassing the Solimar Beach area and providing residents with information on debris flow and about 2,000 sandbags. Nearly 1,400 acres recently burned in a massive fire.

Authorities issued voluntary evacuation orders for residents in Camarillo Springs.

In Orange County, residents in Lakewood, Trabuco Canyon and other areas were loading up sandbags to secure their homes from flooding and clearing debris from storm drains.

"Those homes that are below these hillsides are vulnerable to mud and debris flows," said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.

Voluntary evacuation orders were ordered for residents in Silverado Canyon.

Heavy rainfall could affect the Tuesday morning rush-hour commute, as well as the afternoon commute.

Downed trees could also pose a danger.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents to prepare for the storms, telling KNX 1070 that heavy rainfall could cause the LA River to almost go "up to the top."

At a news conference he asked residents to be on the lookout for storm drains that might not be draining properly, he asked residents to get sandbags from local firehouses to protect their property and he urged the homeless to seek shelter.

In the last big El Nino storms, Garcetti reminded, "We lost about 14 people. And we had billions of dollars in damage. So we are determined to get out in front of this."

He told residents to look for tips and how to report problems via a special website, ElNinoLA.com.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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