City works to mitigate flooding
–The City of Atascadero has been working through the evening and into the morning to keep roads safe. The clearing of debris and downed trees as well as identifying water drainage issues are among the items our Public Works crews are working quickly to mitigate.
Areas to use caution around the City currently are as follows:
- Flooded road at Santa Barbara and Los Palos Road
- Flooded road at Santa Ana Road
- Downed Oak at 8200 block of San Marcos
- Road flooded at Portola and San Marcos Road, and at Curbaril and San Marcos Road
- Small slides blocking one lane at San Fernando Road
- Walking path flooded on Hwy 41
If you must travel in the wet weather, the Atascadero Police Department offers a few important things to consider when driving in the rain: Turn on your headlights, slow down and increase your stopping distance.
The physics of hydroplaning happen regardless how new your vehicle may be. If your vehicle feels light and starts to hydroplane, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. Leave twice as much space between you and the car in front of you. Inevitably, your visibility and reaction times will be reduced because of water on the windscreen, reflections off the roadway, and low light conditions. Each section of roadway may not be in the same condition it was when you drove it last.
Any type of fast moving water is extremely powerful and dangerous. All creeks and other waterways in the city should be respected. The top of the water is deceiving in comparison to the underwater currents. In the event you are forced to drive through low levels of water on a roadway, high speeds do not help you get across. Lowering your speed to under 10 MPH keeps water out of the engine bay and allows you to react to changing conditions. If you are stuck in floodwater, it is best to wait in the car and call for help.
All hands are on deck as city staff works to keep the streets safe. For men, women and children facing homelessness, the ECHO Transitional Shelter located at 6370 Atascadero Avenue opens at 4:30 p.m. today. ECHO serves a nightly meal between 5-6 p.m. and if space is available, shelter will be provided through the night. The Warming Center at St. Williams Church at 6410 Santa Lucia Road in Atascadero is open now.
