{"id":8705961,"date":"2023-01-04T13:31:26","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T21:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/?p=8705961&preview=true&preview_id=8705961"},"modified":"2023-01-17T16:37:05","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T00:37:05","slug":"east-bay-mayor-urges-residents-to-stay-home-offers-help-to-transport-homeless-to-shelter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2023\/01\/04\/east-bay-mayor-urges-residents-to-stay-home-offers-help-to-transport-homeless-to-shelter\/","title":{"rendered":"East Bay mayor urges residents to stay home, offers help to transport homeless to shelter"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a powerful storm like the Bay Area has never seen before taking aim here and the potential for more flooding, downed trees and dangerous winds, Antioch city leaders have taken to social media to warn residents to stay inside and to offer help to the unsheltered.<\/p>\n

In a press conference streamed on Facebook<\/a> late Tuesday, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe warned of the Level 5 storm headed to the area, which he said would likely bring more landslides, fallen trees and heavy flooding along with torrential downpours anticipated later in the afternoon Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe level of storm that we are anticipating is at Level 5, which is historic,\u201d he said. \u201cNever in history\u2026has a Level 5 storm hit the Bay Area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo this is not the time for anybody in the community to be outside unnecessarily because of the dangerous conditions that exist,\u201d he added. \u201cSo I’m asking the public to please stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thorpe said conditions were ripe for more rock and mudslides and falling trees because the dirt was already wet from the previous rainstorm. He also asked that non-essential city employees work remotely.<\/p>\n

\"Antioch
Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, with interim director of public works Scott Buenting to his left, speaks in a livestream Facebook press conference about the city’s preparations for the Level 5 storm anticipated to hit the Bay Area on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Interim public works director Scott Buenting said his crews have been hard at work during the brief calm of the storm cleaning catch basins, channels and removing debris from the streets in anticipation of more rain.<\/p>\n

\u201cCity crews will continue to monitor the storm making sure that streets are remaining safe,\u201d he said. \u201cClosures will most likely be in place as streets will likely flood due to the volume of rain that is expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

In anticipation of the wild weather and potential power outages, the mayor said both the Antioch and Nick Rodriguez community centers and the library would be open for those wanting to stay out of the rain.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are monitoring the situation and if needed, we will extend the hours at our community centers to ensure that our unhoused population is out of the rain,\u201d Thorpe said. \u201cSo, if we need to go into the midnight hours, then that’s what we do as a city to ensure that people are in safe conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thorpe himself took to the streets with a small team on Wednesday morning to warn the homeless along A and 18th streets of the impending storm and let them know the community centers would be open. He also arranged with Tri Delta Transit to have free shuttles available to take the unhoused to the temporary shelters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I’m most concerned about is people in areas by streams and creeks because when it starts pouring, they’re gonna quickly get flooded,\u201d the mayor said. \u201cYou can already see the Delta (water level) is high. You can see these creeks and streams are already filled. And so the moment the next storm comes, it’s gonna get flooded.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thorpe added that some didn\u2019t realize the significance of the storm and were reluctant to go to the temporary shelters, though he offered them bags to pack up their belongings to take with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of losing your stuff, it\u2019s a matter of losing your life because this is gonna get flooded,\u201d he said. \u201cThey may not realize it, because you could be sleeping and then this (torrential rain) starts to happen. And next thing you know, you’re under water.\u201d<\/p>\n