Power Goes Out, Traffic Backs Up in Rainstorm

Monday’s heavy rain knocked out power and closed schools, streets and freeways in the San Fernando Valley, causing a traffic nightmare for motorists and setting up an obstacle course for commuters this morning.

Los Angeles police were put on emergency status, responding to numerous weather-related traffic accidents and incidents, Sgt. Dennis Zine said. Drivers’ problems were compounded by the hundreds of traffic signals that were without power and railroad crossing guards unnecessarily lowered on several Valley streets, Zine said.

“This is the worst flooding in the San Fernando Valley in many, many years,” Zine said. “Our resources are stretched to the maximum.

Streets that remained closed late Monday included Burbank Boulevard between the San Diego Freeway and Balboa Boulevard, and Woodley Avenue through the Sepulveda Basin--where several motorists had to be rescued from flooded autos.

Because city engineers must examine the streets for damage, it may be several days to a week before they can be reopened, Los Angeles Deputy Fire Chief Don Anthony said.

In Burbank, where several streets leading to Burbank Airport were closed because of flooding, “we are asking motorists, unless it’s absolutely necessary, to stay away from the airport,” Police Sgt. Don Goldberg said.

About 8,000 homes in Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley and the Sunland-Tujunga area were without power from 1:53 to 5:01 p.m., said Debra Sass, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The outage was caused by a lightning strike at a receiving station in Sun Valley, and there were scattered outages throughout the evening, Sass said.

Outages were also reported in San Fernando, where about 400 Southern California Edison customers were without electricity between 1:14 and 3:45 p.m. after a power line went down.

The California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles police reported road closures including:

* The southbound Golden State Freeway at the Hollywood Freeway.

* The northbound Golden State Freeway at Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley.

* The Ventura Freeway between Van Nuys Boulevard and the Hollywood Freeway.

* The transition from the southbound San Diego Freeway to the eastbound Ventura Freeway.

* Wheatland Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in Sunland.

* Tuxford Street and San Fernando Road in Sun Valley.

* Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon roads from Mulholland Drive to Pacific Coast Highway.

Officials were uncertain how long the closures would last and advised motorists to listen to radio reports for updated information.

“Motorists should turn on their headlights, wear seat belts, reduce their speed and drive in a very cautious manner,” Zine said.

Even streets still open can be dangerous because of heavy water buildup in some lanes, Zine said.