Follow-Up: Flooded Vincent Thomas Bridge Detour Reopened Same Afternoon as Los Angeles Activates Emergency Center, Keeps Pumps on Around-the-Clock Standby

A Vincent Thomas Bridge closure detour route in Wilmington, a neighborhood of Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California, that flooded early on November 13 was reopened the same afternoon. The office of Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents the Harbor Area, said the City of Los Angeles activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response, and LA Sanitation has committed to keeping pumping resources on standby around the clock ahead of more rain and king tides later this month.

According to McOsker's office, heavy rainfall, unusually high tides and existing drainage challenges early on November 13 overwhelmed the system along Alameda Street and Harry Bridges Boulevard in Wilmington, flooding one of the detour routes prepared for the bridge closure. The office had previously pushed for drainage repairs because the low-lying area is susceptible to flooding, but the combination of conditions required an immediate, coordinated response.

On the morning of November 13, McOsker met at his Wilmington District Office with representatives from Caltrans, LA County Public Works, city departments including Public Works, Transportation, Water and Power and Emergency Management, and the Mayor's Office. His stated priorities were to get the water off the streets, move traffic, keep commercial trucks out of Wilmington's residential neighborhoods, prepare for the next storm and find lasting solutions to the drainage problems.

The office said the Emergency Management Department activated the city's Emergency Operations Center and coordinated a unified response. Crews from multiple agencies added stationary pumps to existing infrastructure and deployed pumping trucks to remove standing water, and the street was reopened by the afternoon. Vactor trucks had already been arranged on standby, and additional equipment is being readied for rapid deployment. LA Sanitation committed to maintaining pumping resources around the clock, with Caltrans, County Public Works and other agencies continuing to support the response.

McOsker's office added that stationary pumps and Vactor trucks cannot be the answer every time it rains: high tides can prevent stormwater from draining properly, while runoff from surrounding streets, including industrial roads in East Wilmington, makes matters worse. With more rain expected and king tides approaching later this month, the office said it will remain directly involved and keep residents updated as improvements are identified.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge closed on November 7 for a deck replacement project expected to last about 16 months, and Wilmington neighbors are already shouldering heavy detour traffic during the closure. GSM previously reported that the November 13 flooding stranded multiple vehicles and that Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn urged Caltrans to designate an additional detour route.

(Source: Office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker)

Related:

Storm Makes Landfall in Southern California: Wilmington Detour Floods, Stranding Vehicles

Follow-Up: Vincent Thomas Bridge Officially Closed; Councilmember McOsker Urges Protection for Wilmington Community

Source: Office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：集装箱船 Ever Mach 停靠洛杉矶港，背景为 Vincent Thomas Bridge。DanielMichaelPerry 摄，CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The container ship Ever Mach at the Port of Los Angeles with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background. Photo by DanielMichaelPerry, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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