Riverside County residents: prepare today for Tropical Storm Hilary

The County of Riverside urges residents to take necessary precautions ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Hilary. The storm is expected to produce tropical storm conditions, including widespread heavy rain, flooding, and wind gusts of up to 60 mph. The storm is expected to reach Riverside County on Sunday, Aug. 20 and Monday, Aug. 21. Anticipated areas of greater rain are the mountain and desert areas.

The County of Riverside activated the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate needs from local response agencies, mobilize emergency resources to areas of need, and send Alert RivCo and Wireless Emergency Alert messages to urge residents to prepare for the storm. In addition, the County of Riverside reached out to unhoused residents in the Santa Ana River bottom, Whitewater Wash, and other water ways, to urge them to leave the area ahead of the storm. Emergency housing resources were offered to keep them safe and out of the water ways.

The time to prepare is now. Residents should take the following steps to stay safe during the storm:

• If you or someone you love has access and functional needs, including the elderly and medically fragile, check on them today and develop a plan to prepare.

• Stay informed by monitoring local news and weather reports. Register for emergency updates at org/AlertRivCo.

• Have a plan for power outages. Keep phones charged, check battery-operated flashlights and have a plan for powered medical devices.

• Keep your vehicle at least half full (gas or EV charge).

• Secure outdoor furniture, umbrellas, trash cans, and other loose items that could become projectiles in high winds.

• Look for areas around your home that may need sandbags to prevent water from entering your home. For more information on sandbags, visit: https://rivcoready.org/disaster-preparedness/have-plan/flooding/find-sand-and-sandbags.

• Prepare a disaster supply kit that includes non-perishable food, water, medications, and other essential items.

• Evacuate if instructed to do so by local officials.

• Stay indoors during the storm, never drive through flooded areas. Turn around don’t drown.

For more information on storm preparedness, visit the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department website at RivCoReady.org.

The County of Riverside opened a Care and Reception Center at Desert Mirage High School, 86150 66^th Ave. in Thermal for any residents who may be without power or need assistance.

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