Results tagged “flooding”

No definitive cause to the growing number of blowouts yet, but south of the Miracle Mile this morning was the next area added to a list that has topped 30 for this month alone. Around 6 a.m. a water main burst, flooding the streets and cutting off service to 40 to 50 LADWP customers. This comes after bursts in Encino and Hollywood Hills over the weekend.

There may be an average of 1,200 water main leaks a year with 200 of those considered major, but the last few weeks have proved that things seem to be worsening. And fast. A 12-inch pipe burst on Topanga Boulevard near Victory Boulevard in Canoga Park today, shutting down traffic on one of the West Valley's main north-south arteries, according to the LA Times. Of course, all these recent bursts causing traffic, damage and loss of service to customers has Los Angeles Department of Water & Power officials confused because as of right now, there is no apparent reason why this is happening so frequently and spread out. A slew of major incidents began when a trunkline in Studio City burst, causing a major flood followed by a rupture that caused a sinkhole that sucked in half a fire truck. Two breaks also occurred in the West Valley yesterday. Some officials say they have to raise our water bills to pay for replacing piping throughout the city.

       

Ever since stories of the octopus who flooded some Heal the Bay offices yesterday morning spread across the internet (it was the LA Times' number one online story today), the nonprofit has been getting a lot of attention. "We’ve been inundated with calls," said Matthew King of the organization. "In response, we’ve made the public aware of our adoption programs for various animals down at the aquarium. These monies are used to help pay for their ongoing care."'

       

Flooding suspected to be caused by a broken water main damaged one home around 1:30 this afternoon. "It looked like it was going to flood out several homes, but they were able to control the flow and redirect the water," said Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department. He said it appeared that one home on the 3000 block of Windsor Ave. suffered damaged, but could not conclude to what extent.

As the downpour lightens across Los Angeles, things are still not back to normal for the region. The Los Angels Fire Department closed over two and a half miles of streets around the Sepulveda Basin in the Valley this morning due to flooding, mandatory evacuations are in place in Orange County and the roof of a building in Anaheim collapsed.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is reporting flooding at Macy's Department Store at the Westfield Topanga shopping mall in Woodland Hills. They are unsure if it is earthquake related or not: "3rd floor of Macy's dept store; EQ related?; No injury; No formal evac; NFD (No Further Details)," wrote LAFD Spokesman Brian Humphrey in an e-mail alert.

UPDATE, 11:30 A.M.: The Daily News reports there was no water main rupture as originally indicated in the early alerts by the fire department. "... we believe we have water that has seeped below this residence on the upper street going down to the lower street and, unfortunately, has dislodged the foundation and the solid ground and is starting to slide." LAFD Battalion Chief Richard Markota told ABC7 in a pre- dawn interview according to the newspaper.

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Last night's powerful rains beat down on Los Angeles, and Southern California in general, with a vengeance. Widespread power outages, mudslides, and flooded roads are just some of the consequences of the overnight downpour.

And maybe some rain boots too. The weather that might have ruined the Rose Parade should strike Los Angeles tomorrow. The LA Times reports that the next four days of rain will most likely bring the most rain in "Southern California since 2005, and possibly even since the 1990s..."

It always seems that Coldwater Canyon Blvd. is flooded. Early this morning, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported an 8 inch broken main causing "severe" flooding between Ventura Blvd. and Mulholland Dr., shutting down the canyon traffic corridor. Muholland Dr. is also closed down between Coldwater Cyn. and Benedict Cyn. due to mud and debris. Then at 6:45 a.m., the most unusual and seemingly non sequitar update from the fire department came in:The flooding...