When the fierce storms roll into San Diego County, DPW road crews typically go on storm patrol, working 12-hour shifts around the clock to keep county roads passable, put up signs and barricades at flooded roadways, and clear fallen trees. During the storm event, and immediately afterwards, public works road crews patrol the county roads clearing any mud, sand and other debris that may have washed into the roadway. In many cases this can be cleared quickly with a rock plow, similar in design to the traditional snow plow. However, in some instances, the age-old hand shovel must be used. During the lull they will also inspect for erosion problems, placing sandbags to redirect the water runoff and prevent further erosion. All along the nearly 2,000 miles of county roads, crews will get out of their trucks to visually inspect all the culverts to ensure they are not clogged with silt or mud. Where the storms have washed excessive amounts of mud and sand into the storm channels, heavy equipment is utilized to clear the channels. In the mountains, snow plowing and road sanding operations can run through the night.
It’s like the old adage of the post office, “Neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night….” It may be 2:00 a.m. and pouring rain, but DPW crews are there, when and where they are needed to keep our roads safe and passable - so that we can all get home safely.
DPW – Working For You.
During and immediately after storm events, specially equipped DPW trucks can clear debris from the roadway quickly with a rock plow
Pete Swenson, road crew supervisor at the County Bonsall / Fallbrook road station resorts to the old-fashioned way to clear the roadway - the shovel.
A DPW road crew places sandbags to redirect the water runoff and prevent further erosion in Valley Center. Crews take advantage of the lull between the storms to check culverts and storm channels, remove debris from the roadway and place sandbags bags.
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