Published in the Oct. 14-27, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Kathy Sullivan
Kathy Sullivan
Downtown Morgan Hill business owners are getting ready for a heavy storm season. Justin Galich of Trail Dust BBQ has installed a foot-long curb on one side of his building. Mary Connolly and Renee Carrillo of GVA Café intend to use sandbags and heavy plastic bags to seal off the usual entrance to their establishment when the flooding came. And Susan March at Ladera Grill has replaced the restaurant’s generator.
Many of our downtown businesses are no strangers on facing the perils of flooding in past years. Carlos Perez of Royal Clothiers recalls a night he was at his store until 2 a.m. vacuuming flood waters. And Wells Fargo employees have seen storm waters come through the bank’s doors during heavy rains.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a 95 percent chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere this winter, gradually weakening through spring 2016. This means with a projection of increased winds and rain, we all need to be prepared for the destructive patterns of the weather.
Two agencies are available to help our citizens and businesses deal with potential flooding issues. The Santa Clara Valley Water District is involved with stream maintenance, including the Little Llagas Creek passing through downtown Morgan Hill. Public Information Representative Colleen Valles told me how the SCVWD is involved with the prevention of potential flooding through a program of sediment removal, vegetation management and stream bank protection. Often, SCVWD workers will be called out in storms to remove blockage such as trash — including items as large as discarded mattresses — thrown into the streams which can cause an overflow of creeks or streams. The water district has launched partnerships with cities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. SCVWD’s web site valleywater.org/services can give Morgan Hill residents valuable information.
Valles told me the water district has an annual winter preparedness program which will start this month. The best way to prevent flooding is to refrain from dumping trash into streams or storm drains, she said. Also, all homes and businesses should have emergency kits available until help can arrive. The district’s Flood Hotline at (408) 630-2650 is a good way to report blockages of a stream or creek.
The city of Morgan Hill is responsible for storm drainage and other flooding issues. Associate Engineer Charles Ha told me the city prepares for potential flooding by having three areas where sandbags can be collected by residents and businesses. They are located at100 Edes Court, 18300 Old Monterey Road at the El Toro Fire Station and near the public parking lot on Depot Street. Ha’s maintenance team has cleaned out the storm drain program in identified hotspots throughout the city and downtown in July and August. Residents can alert the Public Works Department of an identified trouble spot by calling (408)776-7333, so crews can get work orders to fix the problems.
It is a team effort for everyone to look around at their storm drains and let the city know when it needs to make a service call.
Kathy Sullivan is a board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
