Clean up from latest storm continues across Central Valley towns

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- As the potential for more showers continues on the Valley floor, Tulare County employees continue to prepare for what may be next.

"We'll start cleaning up, assessing and then resetting for next week and making sure we're prepared again. Also ready to be out and taking care of anything that pops up during that next storm," says Jennifer Fawkes with Tulare County.

The most recent storm caused some localized flooding, downed trees and slick roads.

The National Weather Service reports there was just under two inches of rain in Visalia.

Wind gusts also peaked at 31 miles per hour on Christmas Eve.

"There was definitely some wind with the storm, so that's going to bring those leaves down faster. As we saw, we had a few trees come down, and getting those out of the way, making sure that they were safe. Of course, those leaves and those streets, too, make it a little more slick. Make sure you're slowing down and you're ready to drive in that rain," mentions Fawkes.

Tulare County says safety is its top priority and urges residents to do their part in cleaning up their properties and calling in any road maintenance concerns.

Employees are available around the clock and are ready to go, even through the holidays.

While cleanup from the latest storm continues, the county will be all hands on deck for any upcoming wet-weather events, especially given the impacts of the recent rainfall.

"We saw some isolated flooding, especially in some of those more low-lying areas that we're used to. Places like Strathmore, Goshen and Orosi did have to see a little extra pumping, so we got those taken care of. That will still be ongoing as things as water continues to move. We did see a couple of pumps that needed a little maintenance while we were working on Wednesday, so we got that taken care of," Fawkes explains.

The National Weather Service is also encouraging locals to stay informed on watches and warnings.

Plus, they ask drivers to pay attention to the road.

"One thing we heavily recommend, and we always say, Turn around, don't drown. Since even a few inches, I forget the exact numbers at the moment, but even a few inches can make it hard for you to drive," urges NWS Meteorologist, JP Kalp.

Tulare County and local cities have sandbag locations available for anyone in need.

People are also encouraged to call in if they see flooded roadways that don't clear after 30 minutes.

To report flooding or a road concern, you can call 559-624-7000 or click here.

A list of sandbag locations in Tulare County can be found here.

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