Warren braces for possible flooding

The meters will help determine where excess water infiltrates the system.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Weather forecasters predict Hurricane Isabel will dump 3 or more inches of rain on the already-saturated Mahoning Valley, and city and emergency officials want residents to be prepared.
The storm hit the East Coast on Thursday and was expected to soak parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states before fizzling out in Canada by Saturday.
Mayor Hank Angelo said the city fire, police, operations, water and water pollution control departments have been notified that today and Saturday may involve emergency call-outs.
City workers also are making additional street barricades to block off flooded streets.
"That's one of the things we found out [with recent flooding] that we didn't have enough street barricades," Angelo said.
Flow meters
Five flow meters, which will monitor the amount of water flowing through storm and sanitary sewers, will be placed in areas where flooding has occurred. The flow meters will enable the city to determine areas where excess water infiltrates the system.
Many city residents have been plagued by flooding since heavy rains started pummeling the area earlier this summer.
Contingency crews of water-pollution-control employees and operations-department employees have been assigned to respond if the city gets deluged.
"We're asking citizens not to travel unless necessary," Angelo said.
Common sense
Obey city signs and barricades, and don't try to cross flooded streets, he advised.
That could create additional emergencies for crews to respond to. People also should have emergency plans for their homes, including steps to notify relatives.
The Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross offers similar cautions.
"If you've experienced flooding, even to a small degree, take the proper precautions now before you incur more problems," said Jackie Wolf, director of development and marketing.
Some things to do
Clear debris from gutters and remove items from the basement, she said.
Because the National American Red Cross Disaster Fund has been depleted, Red Cross chapters must change the way people receive services.
The agency will attend to disaster victims' immediate needs, but services available later on may be affected, Wolf said.
Angelo urged residents to have a battery-powered radio; food and bottled water also should be on hand.
Call the nonemergency fire department number, (330) 841-2542, to have electricity and gas turned off in the case of flooding. Call water-pollution control at (330) 841-2591 to report a flooded basement.
"Reserve 911 for emergencies only, please," Angelo said.