Officials from Santa Cruz County, the City of Santa Cruz, and UC Santa Cruz Office of Emergency Services are urging residents to use caution when traveling around the region, as a powerful winter storm is expected to impact the area over the weekend.
The National Weather Service is predicting that more than a foot of rain could fall in the region, with mountain communities being the most susceptible to storm impacts. Less rainfall, though still significant, is expected throughout the county. Residents are advised to take appropriate precautions if living or traveling through areas prone to flooding.
Those who live in the greater Santa Cruz area, or those who plan to travel both on and off campus should expect wet roadways. Drive with extreme caution and plan extra time for travel.
Due to the likelihood of mudslides and falling trees, residents are also advised to avoid wooded areas such as heavily forested parks. Santa Cruz County maintains several storm resources for residents:
- Storm Preparedness website: http://santacruzcounty.us/StormPreparedness.aspx
- County Office of Emergency Services: http://www.santacruzcounty.us/OES
- Sandbag pickup locations: http://www.santacruzcounty.us/sandbags
- Current road closures (Santa Cruz County roads only): http://www.sccroadclosure.org
In addition, residents may look up current PG&E power outages at http://www.pge.com/outages, or call their 24-hour hotline at 800-743-5002.
Additional consideration should be given to coastal hazards and strong tides as a result of the storm system. Remember to “never turn your back” to the ocean, as sneaker waves can potentially cause you to lose your footing and the strong tides can pull you into the water.
