Riverside continues to be on alert due to the ravages of rain and low temperatures

Photo: Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

After rain that fell for most of the day on Saturday and then on Sunday afternoon, Southern California continues to deal with the ravages it leaves behind. Riverside County announced that it is important for residents to remain vigilant due to saturated soil that can “result in increased flows in streams and rivers.”

Drivers are advised to drive carefully by slowing down, turning on your headlights, and not attempting to cross a flooded road. This makes it difficult to see the depth of the water and with as little as a foot of water the result can be devastating for a stuck vehicle.

Jurupa Valley city councilman Armando Carmona said the city has faced flooding problems for many years due to a lack of adequate infrastructure.

“We have infrastructure problems because there is no central drainage, the water accumulates in the streets and we have to close them because cars cannot pass, it reaches up to a foot deep,” explained the councilor. “This is the result of decades of neglect. Now we are identifying which is the most direct damage and we are looking for funds to fix it”.

Carmona explained that several houses in the area were also affected since some of their basements were flooded.

“It is not a permanent solution, but temporarily it can help and prevent some damage,” he said.

For now, city residents are organizing to fill bags with sand and take them home to prevent more water from getting in.

Carmona recommended that residents who face these problems not remain silent because it is a team effort.

“Wherever they see the problem, they should report it because on many occasions it is not visible from a distance and it is the responsibility of the residents to talk about more specific issues,” he stressed.

The Riverside County Fire Department reported around 3:38 p.m. Saturday that a person had to be rescued in the Santa Ana River near Limonite Ave and Bain Street. The victim was located, rescued by helicopter and transported by ambulance with moderate injuries.

Although the rain will give a little respite during the week, the cold will not go away. Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis issued a cold weather watch due to the low temperature forecast from the National Weather Service.

Wind chill temperatures are expected to drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, Davis said in a statement.

In the Antelope Valley and Mount Wilson, the watch will be in effect from January 16-20, 2023.

When away from home, the meteorologist recommended that extra precautions be taken, especially with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or special medical needs.

“There are places where people can go to stay warm, like shelters or other public facilities,” Muntu said. “We also want to remind people not to use stoves, grills or ovens to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Million dollar help for the homeless

Meanwhile, some encouraging news arrives for the Riverside County homeless community. The County Board of Supervisors, in partnership with Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Molina Healthcare, will invest $35 million in housing and homeless programs and services through the Housing and Homeless Incentive Program.

As part of the collaboration, 10 Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) activities and Molina Healthcare of California activities will be invested, including housing, shelter and behavioral health, among other services.

The long-term initiative is carried out through the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) state program, from the California Department of Health Care Services, designed to transform and strengthen Medi-Cal, offering Californians more equitable care , coordinated and focused on your personal needs to improve your health and extend your life.

Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who represents the Second District, said it is a historic investment dedicated to addressing the housing instability and homelessness crisis facing Riverside County.

“This partnership is the type of action we needed to pursue an integrated solution,” Spiegel said in a statement.

The main objective is that through this investment, homelessness is reduced and prevented in the future, while the necessary resources are developed so that the needy obtain housing according to their needs.