City officials urge resident to exercise caution, be prepared for heavy rains, potential flooding this weekend

Hurricane Hilary’s remnants are set to strike the Coachella Valley this weekend, leading to a city-wide call to action. 

Driving the news: City officials are urging residents to prepare for severe weather effects such as rain, flooding, and high winds as the National Weather Service anticipates the storm bringing approximately five inches of rain to Palm Springs and potentially seven to nine inches in the San Jacinto Mountains. 

Be prepared: The city is making empty sandbags available for residents daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at all five Palm Springs fire stations. Additionally, sand for preventing flood effects will be accessible for residents in the pit behind City Hall.  

What they’re saying: “If any area is flooded, turn around and never drive around a barricade or road closure because local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas,” said Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado. “We want to avoid swift water rescues, which put the lives of both drivers and public safety at risk.”

Bottom line: Residents are advised to avoid driving in heavy rain, stay off bridges over fast-moving waters, take shelter inside their cars during rapid water surges, avoid crossing flood waters completely, and sign up for Palm Springs public safety alerts for updates on weather-related events. You can sign up for the alerts at this link​.