Issued 12/14/11, Posted 12/15/11 – The City of Sierra Madre would like to make residents, businesses, and visitors aware of the latest National Weather Forecast for increasing winds beginning tomorrow (Thursday) evening and continuing into Friday. Winds are forecast to reach between 15 and 25mph, with gusts up to 30mph.
Residents are urged to be very careful when outside of their homes, and be aware of their surroundings, especially when walking or driving under trees in public or on their own property. City staff and City volunteers are working to identify and mitigate potential hazards such as broken limbs that remain in trees. Please continue to report any potential hazards that you may observe to City Hall at 626-355-7135 or the Police department at 626-355-1414. Be advised that all hazards on public property will be recorded and corrected as soon as staff and equipment are available.
Today (Wednesday) is the final day that private property owners are allowed to place vegetative debris onto the parkway or street for Public Works crews to collect. Please understand that our crews have been working extended hours since December 1st, but have not finished the first pass at collecting this debris from every location, and that the full clean-up is still expected to take the remainder of the month.
Please do not use plastic bags for vegetative debris and be advised that you should always use your green barrels for smaller debris. After today, if you have other non-vegetation debris, excessive Palm tree fronds, or if you have large branches or stumps, you may schedule a ‘bulky item’ pickup with Athens at (888) 336-6100. Branches and stumps will need to be cut to a maximum of four feet in length for pickup.
All residents are urged to report private property damage from the severe windstorm event to the Los Angeles County’s telephone hotline 2-1-1. Residents may also report private property damage online at www.211la.org. This information is vital to efforts of on-going State and Federal disaster-relief funding.
City staff has also been contacted by a regional organization of volunteers that are willing to assist private residents with chain-saw assistance. Please contact the Sierra Madre Public Works Department at 626-355-7135 for more information if you are need this assistance.
Overnight parking restrictions have been lifted throughout the City for the remainder of the month of December. The City’s Public Parking lots are also available to all residents for overnight parking for the remainder of the month.
Please continue to be cautious of door-to-door offers of repair or debris removal which would include flyers or business cards that are deposited on your property or car. Ask friends, family and associates for recommendations about contractors that they have hired. Ask for proof of a valid City Business License and/or State Contractors license. Call City Hall to confirm Business Licenses and never pay cash in advance of work.
Again, City staff and City volunteers would like to express their sincerest appreciation to the residents and businesses of Sierra Madre for their continued patience and efforts to assist the City and their neighbors through this event.