Rick Daniels: Southern California Flood Clean-Up Highlights Desert Community Teamwork
Although recent storms in Southern California caused flash flooding in desert and foothill communities, the quick response of residents enabled a stable recovery. City Manager in Desert Hot Springs, CA Rick Daniels comments on the clean-up effort.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 05, 2012
The end of the 2012 summer has proven to be a busy one in terms of severe weather throughout America. While recent news has focused on the effects of Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf Coast, widespread droughts and a collection of forest fires throughout the country, Southern California residents recently faced severe storms that caused flooding in desert communities. A recent article from The Sacramento Bee explains, "Southern California foothill and desert communities are cleaning up after fast and furious storms sent mud and water flooding into homes." While most of the damage has been addressed since the storms arrived in late August, Desert Hot Springs City Manager Rick Daniels commends the community's response to aid clean-up.Although no deaths or injuries were reported as a result of the severe weather, the article notes that Cathedral City, California, experienced extensive flooding as "a nearby canyon levee failed...sending water, rocks and mud down a mountain and turning East Palm Canyon Drive into a rushing river." In addition to street flooding, residents reported water and mud damage in their homes. The article also reveals, "Lightning hit a tree in the Los Angeles suburb of Whittier, sparking a half-acre fire that damaged two cars."
While the effects were quick and the damage varied, Rick Daniels reports that community effort helped area residents return to their normal daily lives. Rick Daniels reflects on the incident, "The storms were quick, intense, and unexpected. In Desert Hot Springs we were well prepared with stockpiles of sand bags, equipment and personnel. As back up the city had a number of contractors on call in the event that things worsened."
As City Manager, Rick Daniels notes the importance of formulating emergency response plans, such as those described above, as a way to help combat unforeseen events. Likewise, Daniels comments that although the storms affected a collection of Southern Californian communities, it is essential that cities create a united front when tackling the aftermath of severe weather or natural disasters. As a proponent of this approach, Rick Daniels concludes, "If asked or needed, the City of Desert Hot Springs stands ready to assist our neighboring communities."
ABOUT:
Rick Daniels has served as the City Manager in Desert Hot Springs, California since 2007. In this role, Rick Daniels strives to foster financial growth, stabilize city government, encourage public works, reduce crime and engage citizens to become more involved with their community. Prior to holding this position, he filled other prestigious roles, including serving as the president of Richard A. Daniels, Inc. Rick Daniels was also the Capital Projects Director of Waste Management of North America, as well as the President/CEO of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership.
Website: http://rickdanielscitymanager.com