Get prepared for heavy rain, winds

Here are tips for keeping your family and your property safe when heavy rain and winds are predicted:

In your car...

• As a flat city in a flat region, Lakewood streets can take time to drain during a heavy downpour.
• Avoid driving during a downpour if you can.
• Never drive through a flooded roadway (or walk across a flowing stream of water).
• Park your car in your raised driveway when a heavy downpour is expected. You don't want your car to be accidentally flooded parked alongside a gutter with high water.
• Watch for utility workers working near roadways during storms.
• Slow down at intersections, especially those with non-working signal lights, and treat them as stop signs.

At home...

• Garages are the most vulnerable to flooding. Raise valuable items off the floor. Use sandbags if you think your garage or ground-level rooms are at risk.
• Check with your local L. A. County Fire Station for sandbags and sand, or contact Home Depot to purchase sand or other alternatives.
• Check yard drainage.
• Check trees that may have weak limbs that could fall in a storm.
• Keep pets inside and ensure they have shelter from the storm.
• Be prepared for possible power outages. Check your flashlights and replace the batteries if needed. Be sure your cellphone is fully charged.

How to stay informed

Follow the City of Lakewood's Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) social media accounts for updates. 

Sign up for the Alert LA County updates. Alert LA County is a free mass notification system for Los Angeles County residents and businesses used to contact the public during a Countywide emergency. It's easy to sign up with your Google, Facebook or X/Twitter account.

Subscribe to our free weekly emagazine to be the first to learn of news and alerts affecting Lakewood. 

Street sweeping information

If street sweeping is in question due to weather conditions, we will post status on social media early in the morning, as well as on our website.

If possible, please plan to have cars off the street anyway, as a flooding precaution.