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Monsoon Preparedness: Phoenix gets ready ahead of summer storm season

The monsoon season starts on Saturday, June 15. The City of Phoenix is preparing for the monsoon season, which begins on June 15. The Office of Emergency Management is hosting the annual Monsoon Preparedness Day to discuss what it needs to keep the community safe from weather conditions year-round. This includes increased efforts to mitigate against, as well as recover from any damage caused by the season. The city will also educate the public on essential items such as water, non-perishable food items, first-aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries. Other cities such as Mesa and Glendale are also preparing for monsoon seasons. ADOT's dust detection system on the I-10 is deployed along a 10-mile stretch of the freeway between Phoenix and Tucson, which lowers the legal speed limit during severe dust storms. Glendale Fire Department reminds residents of ways to stay safe during the storms.

Monsoon Preparedness: Phoenix gets ready ahead of summer storm season

Published : 10 months ago by Dominique Newland in Weather

The monsoon season starts on Saturday, June 15. The City of Phoenix is making sure it is ready for the storms, and its Office of Emergency Management is hosting the annual Monsoon Preparedness Day.

The city, along with its partners, will discuss what it needs to keep the community safe from weather conditions year-round, with a focus on increased efforts during the season. That will include being prepared to mitigate against, as well as recover from, any damage.

In addition, they will discuss ways to educate the public on keeping essential items at home, like water, non-perishable food items, first aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries.

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Besides Phoenix, other cities are also making sure residents are prepared. Mesa has several locations where people who live there can fill their own sand bags, or take pre-filled sand bags, for free.

Meanwhile, people with ADOT say their dust detection system on the I-10 will help keep people safe.

The system is deployed along a 10-mile stretch of the freeway, between Phoenix and Tucson. The first-of-its-kind system lowers the legal speed limit during severe dust storms, where visibility is limited. It also has a message board that shows urgent updates. Since it was first used at the start of the 2020 monsoon season, the system has been activated for an estimated 50 dust storms.

The monsoon season will last through September 30.

Be prepared and stay safe during the monsoon

"Most Valley residents know how quickly and furiously storms can move in and out, bringing strong winds, dust, rain, and flash flooding. These storms can cause interruptions in services, such as water, power, and gas," stated Captain Ashley Losch of the Glendale Fire Department.

GFD reminds residents of ways they can be prepared and stay safe:

• None Have flashlights with extra batteries on hand.

• None Have food that can be prepared without the need for cooking or refrigeration.

• None Have at least one gallon of clean water for each person in the household.

• None Have backup power for anyone requiring power for a medical device.

• None Have backup power for cell phones that do not require charging.

• None Have a first aid kit ready and accessible.

• None Never drive into areas with flowing water; it takes less than 10 inches to wash a car away.

• None Do not approach downed power lines, the ground can be energized for up to 200 feet.

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