Officials provide update on storm readiness across Los Angeles area, debris removal progress

More than two months after the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires broke out, causing widespread destruction, the Los Angeles area has also had to brace damaging rainstorms.

Officials have implemented safety measures, including sand bags, concrete barriers and diverting debris to protect the burn scar areas from further damage.

At a news conference Wednesday morning, LA County Department of Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said the burn scar areas have had safety measures in place for every forecasted storm. He told reporters that the peak intensity of the storm is expected to take place between 2 and 5 a.m. Thursday.

Several mandatory evacuation orders and warnings are in effect in Altadena, Sierra Madre and the Pacific Palisades. Officials are urging residents in areas with warnings to be ready to evacuate if conditions become dangerous.

"These evacuations are very strategic and very precise," Pestrella. "They were part of a recommendation by Public Works to analyze the most vulnerable locations."

The National Weather Service has also issued a flood watch for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, which will go into effect Wednesday evening and remain until Thursday afternoon.

He addressed residents' concerns about the debris basins in Sierra Madre. Pestrella said the basins have the capacity to receive the expected debris from this upcoming storm. 

"We expect the debris and mud to come from actually slopes without any debris basin below it or from street systems where debris comes onto the street off of the adjacent properties," Pestrella said. 

He explained the Sierra Madre Dam is somewhat of an undersized dam in that area that they have been hauling debris from around the clock for the past several weeks. 

"We do expect that facility, as designed, to flow over its spillway during this event at some point," Pestrella said. 

He said they have set up diversions to ensure the debris properly flows into the designated channels to the San Gabriel Complex. 

Debris removal progress

Officials also provided an update on the debris removal process, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to complete Phase 2.

Colonel Eric Swenson from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they have received just shy of 4,000 Right of Entry forms. 

Residents in affected areas have until March 31 to opt into the Army Corps free debris removal process. 

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced they had completed Phase 1 of household hazardous waste removal. The agency deferred about 3,400 properties to the Army Corps for debris removal. 

Of the properties deferred, the Army Corps has cleared over 2,354.