Storm Aftermath

Yesterday is a great example of why our entire workforce is critical to the health and safety of the community. It takes all of our dedicated employees to keep our roads free of hazards including trees, water and abandoned vehicles. We also needed our entire fire department mobilized to deal with three structures fires all occurring at the same time. Not to mention the fact that trash still needs to be picked up, the traffic signals need to keep functioning, the drinking water supply needs to be pure and our toilets hopefully keep flushing.

Here is some up to the date information from our Public Works department regarding yesterday's inhospitable weather:

We had some minor street flooding during yesterday’s storm, but we were fortunate that most of the leaves have not yet fallen, so we did not have too many blocked storm drains or inlets. Historically, most street flooding in Manteca is caused either by leaves blocking the storm drain inlets or by leaves clogging the storm drain pipes.

City crews are deployed throughout the City during rainy days to clear drains, with priority to areas where water extends into the traffic lane and impedes traffic. Areas with standing water that do not affect traffic flow are cleared as time allows, but are a much lower priority. Residents who would like to keep their street from flooding can help by maintaining a clear path for water to flow into the storm drainage system. Specifically, keep leaves and other debris from collecting along the street curb. If leaves and branches will fit, please put them into your green toter instead of putting them on the street. If you must put them on the street, do not pile them against the curb, but keep them at least one foot away from the curb line, leaving a path for water to flow without being restricted by leaves or washing leaves into the storm drain. If water is starting to pool along the edge of your street, you may be able to solve the problem yourself by using a rake to clear leaves away from the storm drain inlet.

Right now our streets are littered with leaves, branches, and other debris from the storm. Our street sweepers will continue on their normal routes, so some streets will not be swept for two weeks. You can find out when your street will be swept by examining the map at http://www.ci.manteca.ca.us/pwt/stdiv/streetswp.pdf or by calling the Streets Division at 456-8449. Residents can help prevent flooding if we get more rain before all streets are swept by clearing the sidewalk and street along their property and putting the leaves and branches into their green toters.

The City’s bulk leaf collection program will start after Thanksgiving and will continue until all leaves are collected. This program is designed to collect large piles of leaves that will not fit into the green toters. Please arrange leaf piles so that they do not extend into traffic, while also keeping the area along the curb clear for proper street drainage.

To report street flooding during normal business hours, please call the Streets Division at 456-8449 or the Public Works Department at 456-8400. Outside normal working hours, any flooding that impedes traffic or threatens to damage property should be reported to the Police Department at 456-8100.