LBPOST.com: Storm Floods Long Beach Streets

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Storm Floods Long Beach Streets

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 01.19.10 |

| Text Size:

Heavy rainstorms flooded many Long Beach streets, stranding cars and closing roads. We are awaiting word on which streets and areas of the city were hit hardest so that you can avoid them.

The flooding was relatively mild in some parts and extremely hazardous in others. Information is still trickling in but with photos like this one I spotted on Twitter and these from Fat Tony it looks like Long Beach was hit pretty hard.

Long Beach Fire Department public information officer Joshua Johnson said that drivers should avoid going south on the 710 Freeway, and that streets throughout the city west of the 710 (basically, the westside) have experienced significant flooding.

One area in particular that was hit hard by flooding is around 10th Street between Bennett & Roswell.

Johnson said that there have so far been no major emergencies or extensive damage, save for some stuck cars and electrical wires blown down by the wind.

"If it looks shady, don't drive through it," Johnson said. "If you have to drive through it, use extreme caution."

High waters are beginning to subside and most streets are much more clear now than they were earlier.

Send in your photos to have them posted in our gallery.

Stearns & Vuelta Granda in east Long Beach. Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Studebaker & Stearns in east Long Beach. Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

Stearns & Vuelta Grande in east Long Beach. Photo by J.J. Fiddler

California Heights. Photo sent in by LBPOST.com reader Nickey Woods.

Wilson High School. Photo sent in by Fat Tony. CLICK HERE for his full photo gallery.

Wilson High School. Photo sent in by Fat Tony. CLICK HERE for his full photo gallery.

Wilson High School. Photo sent in by Fat Tony. CLICK HERE for his full photo gallery.

Atherton in east Long Beach. Photo by J.J. Fiddler

Belmont Shore. Photo by Andrew Veis

Belmont Shore. Photo by Andrew Veis

Belmont Shore. Photo by Andrew Veis

El Dorado Park in east Long Beach. Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

El Dorado Park in east Long Beach. Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

7th Street across from Wilson High School.

Broadway Blvd.

Bennett Ave. between 7th & 8th. Photo by K. Weitzel

El Roble St and Knoxville Ave. in East Long Beach. Sandor X. Mayuga

Litchfield and Daggett. From reader Christine Workman

From reader Rachel Holliday

East Side. Photos from reader Nancy Brown

From reader Kyle Ramirez

Belmont Shore. From reader Sandy Robinson

Second St and Coronado. Photos from reader Christine Janus

Alamitos Beach area. Photo from reader Kevin P.

Follow the LBPOST.com on our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.

Comments

Click Here to Join the Discussion on this Story

46 Comments so far.

don
Great job getting these excellent photos up quickly, LBPost.com guys!!

coni
amazing pictures! Thanks!

PDQ
I'll bet it was no fun on Redondo near the post office and the National Guard Armory. The water runs downhill on Redondo (heading north) and it runs down Hill St. off of Signal Hill.

Lola
can somebody post Downey, CA pictures too!!!

Reeverse
Most excellent visuals! What contingency plans does the City have in pace for such issues?

CHARLIE
Yes, excellent work, Ryan, I hope you had your high boots on; Living on the 12th floor in my apartment building, I really didn't have to worry, but still no floods below :)

Bennett & 10th
Oh man, just got a call at work that 2 of my cars were flooded... i'm right on 10th & Bennett. Will the city pay for the damages to our vehicles? TY Ryan.

Shelby
Wow! And the BIG storm isn't even here yet. Watch out Thursday! Great job getting the pics so fast.

just saying
The City will not pay for damages to vehicles, that's what automobile insurance is for. If you don't have comprehensive vehicle coverage, I'll bet you'll never make that mistake again. Vehicles getting flooded by simply being parked on the street = unfortunate and totally sucky. Vehicles getting flooded by clueless drivers insisting on continuing forward even when water levels are rising and rain is getting stronger = karmic payback for stupidity.

dwan
OMG! I'm @ work in O.C. and just saw this. Does anyone know how the streets are now around 10th and Belmont?

cm
Nancy and Rachel, can you tell us where your photos were taken? Thanks

JK
Great Pix! About 15 years ago, I lost my car in the same exact flood - 10th and Bennett. We got a bit of FEMA for the apartment, and my insurance company covered my car. Bitter sweet memories! I feel for all of you with that underground parking by Wilson High!

pablo
fittle sticks!

Ohjeanjeannie
I was in Naples for a 10:00 appointment, drove through the shore and back to Bixby Knolls by 11:30. Just missed the deluge! I'm glad for a little dry time so the earth can soak it in before it starts again...

LoBo
1st photo of the blue/green floater - my son's car. This is deja vu of January, 1995, exactly 15 years ago. Btw, his car engine started up! When he opened the hood, a diaper fell out. Funnier thing is, he is a Wilson kid but stayed home sick. Otherwise the car would probably have been a sinker.

judy griffith
My street looked like these other streets. I live on Ladoga. Garbage men had not come on other side of st. till after noon. that is when the rain came down. I went out to get my recycle can. All the garbage can were running down the sreet in the water. I put on shorts, and went out bare foot with a rain coat. no sence wearing shoes. I draged some garbage cans out of the water on to the grass. I watched people do silly things. My neighbor knocked on my door at 6 pm. and asked if i knew where her two cans were. I said a neighbor down the street has two on her grass. lets go check it out. Guess waht they were hers. all is well. everyone is happy. Judy the Rat Whisperer

ron
I live across the street from Wilson and the street flooded but not like the shots in the pictures here, I think the flooding started here on 10th and park then flowed down to bennett where it really backed up.

Kate K
Fat Tony and Andrew Veis should get awards. What an amazing day. Now, it's gone. We were at Animal Care SErvices for Wheely Willy's memorial and they shooed us out right after because the parking lot was flooding and a tornado watch was in force.

kate K
REminds me--I hope that the repairs to the drainage area near ARlington Street in West LB have been repaired. NO excuse for that.

Underwater
On the peninsula, no power, flooded garages and streets, the worst has yet to come too! Beware of the tornado potential for those of you above ground level.

aca
does anybody know how the west side is doing on arlington? that street is always flooding

wilson student
sooooo over going to school tomorrow. no one go.

Paul
Did the varden hotel get damaged Please let us know

Shelly
Memories with those great photos! It was quite a drive home through the rivers of east Long Beach. My driving belt was washed off and the battery died, during the heavy noon time down pour. I managed to make it to a local library parking lot and safely off the street with some defensive driving skill. Loved watching the boys skim boarding across the high waters of El Dorado Park grass field as I waited for AAA and EXPERT TOW to rescue me with my auto needs. Thank You AAA and Expert Tow!! It was a very busy day on the flooded streets of Long Beach!!

nordigirl
Hope everyone is ok and being extra safe in Long Beach. I'm in east long beach and will be happy when the storms are all over! I'm so glad I didn't drive down 7th st. by Wilson yesterday I was going to after the rain stopped. Yikes!

Anonymous
we are in our last days, so its time to get it right with God. don't be scared of the tragics going on, just have faith in the father and believe in what he say, enjoy your life but do'nt for get to pray everyday, because you never know when its your time to go, or your love ones. God has his hands around us, he loves you no matter what, so be loved and do right in life, everything happends for a reason but as long as you ask for forgiveness and stay in the word of God you have no worries,God loves you and I, we'll be fine,just know everything will be good if you have God in your life and keep the faith like i said because God holds the waters, and everything in the palms of his hand, read your bible and here the word of God and be fearless of everything happening in this world today.And each out to peoples to let them know there's a better place then this, and its the kingdom of heaven, so have no fear. we are living in the flesh, so nothings perfect, but once we're out this body God said we'll live in the spirit which will just be joy and happyness in the kingdom with our father.and with all tis said, lets all try an make it to church every sunday and fast in pray and read our bible, because no one knows when Jesus is returning, lets get it together and try an stop the madness the best way we could as people.and as children of God. well take care God bless everyone, the bad weather will be over soon... keep warm and dry, the best way you can.

cm
Anonymous-best.laugh.ever. I won't be scared of "the tragics" going on.

Diana S.
Thank you for the photos, especially "Fat Tony's" pictures. He took some really great shots. It was fun to be able to post this to my Facebook page for my friends back east. Keep up the good work!

Chandler Bing
I wonder why he posted anonymously?

Fred
Don't let the car exhaust catalytic converter get soaked in water, it can ruin it, and that probably is not a warranty claim.

Fred
To Anonymous If you want to stand up for Jesus, at least don't be afraid to use your name. Don't be afraid like Peter, when he denied Jesus three times in one night. This is not a tragedy, it is symple problem of the storm station pumps are under capacity for the task at hand. Notice the area around Anaheim and the 710 freeway to PCH and just east of the 710 freeway that used to flood on a regular basis, it is not flooded today. This is because they replaced the 1,000 HP water pumping station with 4 each 1,200 horsepower pumps and a pair of 650 HP pumps. I watched the construction, and it took them a year and cost over $25,000,000 to complete the project. Now they need a similar sized pumping station on the west side of the 710 freeway. As for Wilson school, that just requires increasing the flow capacity for the water to get into the jetty south of 4th st. Or maybe install a 1,000 HP pump station to put that water into the jetty faster.

Dennis
I'll bet there are many reasons for each of these floods; lack of capacity, trash (read public litter), and pump failures. I don't know the setails on the grate program I've read about but grates, while stopping things from reaching the ocean, will also stop water flow when overwhelmed with debris. I enjoyed Fred's info on pump design for the 710. Correcting faulty designs costs lots of $$$. Yes, you need car insurance. Defaulting to "will the City pay" isn't reality. However, as a vehicle restorer, while your car may start again, if the electrical system got wet, you can bet on long term problems with corrosion in connections. Cat converters will rust out as will mufflers. You will think you're okay, then try to convince the insurance company a year from now what the problem was. Just be aware. Fortunately, Thursday wasn't as bad as was expected. Still, a lot of water. Our neighborhood survived.

Suni
I woke up to about 4 inches of snow here in upper Yucaipa, CA (East of San Bernardino off hwy 10) power outage (brief) huge snow flakes. Soon it will melt but I is very pretty.

redguru
I lost a car at 10th & Bennett 15 years ago, too. I had just bought it used three weeks before. (Don't feel bad, it was not particularly nice!) I worked at the Credit Union office on 10th & Ximeno. My insurance company reimbursed me for what I paid for the vehicle. The water was to the top of the windows--almost submerged!

Parks
It appears to me that flooding in Long Beach occurs in 20 - 25 years cycles.My first recollection was in the mid-1950's when I came to L.B. to attend college. I remember seeing police and fire personnel going along P.C.H. at Orange in row boats. During that time a new housing development near Stearns and Studebaker suffered substantial damage including buckling parque floors. About 25 years later, L.B. had another severe flooding situation and again Stearns and Palo Verde was similar to what happened a couple of days ago. During that time, a teen-age family borrowed a surf board to get home near Stearns and Vuelta Grande. Although L.B. subsidence problem has been "managed," it still may a problem, and may not be compatible with the storm drain system ... the latter having been ignored ever since Prop 13 ...

walter
tell when these happen we want to ride our sea-doo on the street Please e-mail right away Thanks Walter

Richard Lander
So glad I don't live there anymore!!!!!

wetNlb
Opposition to the Drain Project is Responsible for the Flooding of our Neighorhoods Once again. 10yrs we have waited for the Project to start and how we pay for it again

Kirsten Denmark
Wow I lived in Long beach for 7 y . have just been back on 3 weeks christmas vacation. was at 2 nd street and around the are..This is something else , never seen anything like it.. Best from frezing below Snow weather in Copenhagen Denmark

Jane
Sometimes I think the person who posted the anonymous comment is right. Sure, there are logical explanations for why things go wrong but I think ultimately human beings are in error and somewhere down the line, somebody didn't do what they were supposed to. The sin of man is all around us. Sometimes I think, these things are a wake up call to have us all think about life and what we are doing here on this planet. One person's act can affect so many others including innocent people who didn't do anything wrong. I always intend to try and get closer to God but sadly He get's last in my list of priorities. I know that God is out there watching us and waiting for us to come to him. May He bless all his children on Earth and show them the way, even the stubborn ones (who make fun of typos and such insignifican stuff). May God help all the people affected by the flooding and it's aftermath. Don't worry, the rainbow will be there at the end of every storm. Peace on earth and compassion to all.

Thomas M. James
Hi you three,I'm just recovering from my test's of my digestive disease's nothing serious but lot's of pain from my Marine Corp service so I will except it and go on with my life. I&Penny were just looking at Long Beach photo's you fwd.to us. Our weather has been pretty stable lately, how ever there have been bad weather warning's forth coming some time next month. wishing all of you the best of health and smooth sailing.God be with you.Thomas & Penny

Steve Paine
Growing up on Atherton behind the college, I never saw water like this - Eldorado park was being built - pave it and it will flood!!!

Fo
Woosies! I grew up in SoCal and have lived in Seattle since 1985 - learn to drive and don't get into deep water!

Gwen
awesome pictures! thanks for posting

phil&leesa
we have family there & couldnt find news coverage or photos like these.great job~~~~glad our son moved from the moldy apt. on the peninsula.

Captain January
Lagoon Meeting Scheduled : The city of Long Beach is hosting a community update meeting about the Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project at : THURSDAY FEB 11. AT LOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , 5201 E. Broadway. " At their meeting talks to improve water quality and habitat value after a history of sewage spills and pollution. hey i got an update for you: WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY OUR HOMES < SCHOOLS etc were destoyed . Let's discuss the SEWAGE SPILLS IN OUR HOMES , BUSINESSESS, SCHOOLS, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WILL COST For The Restoration Project of Our Sanity.

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.

Ryan's Community