Wrapping Up One Storm, Getting Ready for Another

Cleanup continues Tuesday as the city's Public Works Department removes the several downed trees and branches tossed onto streets by Sunday's fierce spring storm. Close to 3 inches of rain fell on Culver City during the downpours, which shattered rainfall records in other cities throughout the Southland.

Lt. Mike Shank of the Culver City Police Dept. said that the storm brought some minor street flooding.

"There was really nothing major," he said. "The hillsides have held."

Culver City Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Darryl Wells confirmed that, aside from trees, there was no property damage.

"Some streets may have been inundated," he said.

Several trees did blow down, including one near the corner of Keystone Avenue and Farragut Drive. Resident Victor Martin said that his neighbor called him and his wife to tell them that a tree was blocking the street around 7 p.m. Sunday.

"It was just fascination," Martin said about the tree. "It happens all the time.

He had recently found out that the trees on his block of Keystone Avenue have fairly shallow roots.

"We were kind of nervous," he said about the tree in front of his house during the storm.

The National Weather Service is forecasting more rain for Wednesday, starting before noon, with possible showers Thursday and Friday. The Wednesday storm is not expected to be as strong as Sunday's, with the storm due Friday even weaker.

Wells said that Fire Station 1 at 9600 Culver Blvd. keeps a large pile of sand, sandbags and shovels for residents who feel concerned about the coming weather, but he didn't believe these incoming storms would cause much trouble. 

Of more concern, he said, was the high level of Ballona Creek.

"We advise people to stay clear of the creek," he said. "The paths are closed off. People shouldn't be on the paths during heavy rain."