Flooding concerns rise in the Five Cities amidst stormy weather

The Five Cities Fire Department is trying to stay one step ahead of mother nature as they prepare for another week of wet weather.

Fire chief Steve Lieberman says he and his team are keeping an eye on levees and streams across the area, including the Arroyo Grande Creek.

“There are monitoring systems on the bridge,” says Lieberman, as he spoke to us from the 22nd Street bridge over the Arroyo Grande Creek in Oceano. “That allows the county to wirelessly monitor the water rate and depth.”

The creek has breached a sandbar on the Oceano Sand Dunes, which Lieberman says takes a lot of pressure off the creek, and reduces the chances of flooding homes or nearby fields.

They will also be keeping be constantly looking out for flooded out streets and roads, encouraging the public to stay away from any standing water.

“Slow down, be cautious, don’t slam on your brakes,” says Lieberman. “Its the typical safety message we like to put out to people, but some choose not to hear us.”