A significant winter storm swept through the county on Monday, resulting in perilous driving conditions and warnings from the National Weather Service regarding potential flooding in low-lying regions.
Two years ago, the area experienced heavy flooding in Leucadia, located at the northern end of Encinitas. In response to the impending storm, Mayor Bruce Ehlers announced that the city is well-prepared. The city has installed industrial pumps in critical locations, including the alley by Leucadia Roadside Park, where water tends to accumulate.
Currently, there are approximately six to seven pumps actively diverting water into drains, thus preventing it from reaching homes and businesses. Additionally, several vacuum trucks are on standby to remove any puddles or excess water that may pose a risk of further flooding.
Matthew Lorentz, the manager of Johnny Rad’z Pizza, expressed optimism about the city’s efforts. His establishment’s parking garage, situated in an alley previously affected by flooding, has remained dry since the pumps began operating after the New Year’s Day storm. “I know they’ve worked on it since then,” said Lorentz, commending the city’s response to the flooding issues.
Ehlers highlighted the city’s commitment to enhancing the drainage infrastructure rather than solely depending on pumps. “We’re working on long-term solutions,” he stated, noting that the city has allocated $800,000 to design a new storm drain along South Vulcan, which is expected to alleviate some of the flooding challenges in the vicinity of Leucadia Park.
The weather service has warned that the storm could produce strong winds and rough seas, but with proactive measures and improvements in infrastructure, there is a hopeful outlook for the community to withstand the adverse weather conditions.