City warns of possible flooding

The city of Laguna Beach has issued a flood warning for downtown and city officials are advising the community to take precautions to protect their property.

“Minor flooding has been reported at a few locations,” Public Works Director Steve May said Tuesday. “Overall, we have been doing very well so far. Monday evening at 9:30 p.m. a storm drain collapsed under the edge of Wendt Terrace around the 800 block. There was no significant damage and crews are making temporary repairs. We are expecting possibly heavier flooding this evening.”

The warning notice states:

“Because of approaching potentially heavy rain over the next couple of days, we are providing the following information regarding preparations for flooding in the downtown.

“In the past, there have been occasions where flood waters escaped Laguna Canyon Channel at Beach Street causing flooding depths up to 2 feet along Broadway and Ocean Avenue We do not expect this to occur during this current storm, although it is a possibility.”

The notice advises that sandbags or flood gates should be installed at doorway entries after hours to keep waters from entering businesses overnight. Empty sand bags are available for free at all city fire departments.

The city does not provide or place filled sandbags for the public except where there are known problems of flooding from city streets, the notice states.

Filled sandbags are available at:

Ganahl Lumber (running low), open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1765 Laguna Canyon Road, (949) 494-6538;

Home Depot, open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., 27401 La Paz Road, (949) 831-3698; and 24332 El Toro Road, (949) 598-9171.

Fill sand is available at Larry’s Building Materials, open from 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 1975 Laguna Canyon Road, (949) 494-1107.