As atmospheric river slams Valley, here’s what Fresno, Clovis are doing to help
The city of Fresno issued a clear statement Monday morning about how residents should handle the atmospheric river that has moved into the area with its high winds and massive amounts of rain.
“Stay dry, stay calm.”
The line was repeated several times by several city officials during a news conference at City Hall.
Mayor Jerry Dyer urged residents to avoid road travel and work from home if possible for the next 72 hours, as the current storm is expected to be replaced by another that will last through the weekend. The city has instructed its employees to do the same, he said.
“There is no reason to be out in this rain unless it is absolutely necessary,” Dyer said.
The city used the news conference to announce the opening of four storm relief centers.
The centers — at Maxie L. Parks Community Center, Mosqueda Community Center, Pinedale Community Center and Ted C. Wills Community Center — will be open 24 hours a day through Sunday, and serve the city’s unhoused population with cots, blankets and three meals a day through a partnership with the Poverello House.
Additional resources of cots and blankets are being provided by the state through Red Cross.
The city also will be offering free transportation to the centers through the Poverello House and the FAX bus service.
Fresno will not be conducting any relocation of unhoused populations during this time unless it’s to one of these centers and will be conducting outreach to make sure people get transportation if needed.
“This week is all about public safety,” Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said during the news conference.
“This week is about making sure the unhoused community gets the information they need.”
Fresno prepared for storms
The city had 50 calls for service related to the storm over the weekend and isn’t expecting major issues with the roadways or landscapes — what Public Works Director Scott Mozier called the “urban forest.”
That’s because of prep work that was done prior to the storm, such as neighborhood tree trimming and street sweeping programs and working with the flood control district to be sure there is room in the city’s ponding basins.
“The city of Fresno,” Mozier said, “is in pretty good shape.”
Still, Mozier urged residents to limit travel, increase time allowances when travel is necessary and report issues to the city either by calling 311 or through the FresnoGo app. A dozen code enforcement officers are on standby to help clear debris and the like.
“Don’t assume the city already knows.”
One roadway that has been closed by the rain is the Belmont Underpass near Golden State Boulevard and Roeding Park. A power outage has kept a pump from being able to work at that site, Mozier said.
Clovis reroutes traffic
In Clovis, Ashlan Avenue, between Thompson and Highland avenues, has experienced some weather-related damage and traffic was being rerouted.
In a news release issued Monday, City Manager John Holt said public utilities crews have been busy clearing drains and gutters of leaves, branches and other debris.
“Many worked throughout the weekend and around the clock responding to issues and preparing for this next round of rain.”
Crews may be seen pumping water from one area to another part of the city.
“This is normal,” Holt said.
“The City of Clovis is working closely with the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, coordinating efforts to move water into temporary flooding basins with capacity.”
So, far the city has distributed more than 4,000 sandbags through a self-service sandbag fill station located at the Clovis Corporation Yard at 155 N. Sunnyside Ave. Sandbags are limited to a maximum of 10 per household.
In Clovis, residents should report flooding, fallen trees or other storm-related issues to the city’s Public Utilities Department at 559-324-2600. You can also use the GoClovis app.
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 11:50 AM.