Sedona AZ (June 5, 2013) – The monsoon season typically starts on June 15 and ends by September 30. Southwest homeowners can prepare for the monsoon season by following these simple how to steps:
- Check all drainage devices (catch basins, grates and underground drainage piping) on your property and remove any accumulated dirt and debris. Inspect and clean them regularly to make sure they are free flowing.
- Contact your Homeowners or Property owners Association to check drainage clearances in common areas. Work with your neighbors to prevent problems that affect both of you.
- Inspect and clean roof gutters and down spouts that may have become damaged or clogged with leaves, twigs and silt.
- Make sure that concrete swales around the perimeter of a structure are not cracked or broken to the point that they lose their effectiveness.
- Check slopes for large amounts of loose soil, rocks, brush, or debris and remove any that may become dislodged during storms.
- During heavy rains and storms, inspect the slope for erosion and correct any problems immediately. If unusual cracks, settling, or earth slippage start, don’t wait, act immediately.
When you may need to call experts?
- If your roof shows signs of wear, have it checked by a licensed roofing contractor.
- Large rocks and boulders may become loose during storms. Consult with a licensed Geologist or Soils Engineer in order to determine the best method for correcting this condition.
- Inspect any retaining walls that may affect your property. If there is any listing, leaning, overturning, or cracking, contact a licensed engineer immediately.
- When landscaping, avoid disrupting the flow patterns established when your property was originally developed. When in doubt, consult a licensed Geologist or Soils Engineer.
If you have further questions about the program, contact Dan Neimy, City Maintenance Superintendent, at 928-204-7109.
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City of Sedona Continues With Pre-Monsoon Maintenance Program
The City of Sedona continues its Pre-Monsoon inspection and clean-up program, which was started last year. This program involves inspection of public and private drainage ways in various areas of the City during the months of May and June of this year.
The purpose of an inspection is to identify debris, dirt, and vegetation in drainage ways that would significantly impede the flow of stormwater during a monsoon storm, or that may be carried downstream by the storm. Debris, dirt, and vegetation that is moved downstream may clog culverts, and bridge underpasses resulting in additional flooding, beyond what might have occurred if drainage ways had been free flowing.
Because many of the drainages to be inspected pass through the rear of properties, property owners and residents along drainages can expect to be contacted by City personnel.
City personnel will have badges identifying them as City employees or as City contractors. If you have questions regarding a person’s association with the City or this program, call (928) 204-7111.
When summer storms come around watch out for dishonest people looking to take advantage of your distress by offering cheap home repairs or landscape work after monsoon storms. Ask for local references. Use local contractors and labor because they have a reason to do good work or you’ll bad mouth them and cost them business. It’s a small town. Common sense. Makes me laugh when people go to Phoenix or Flag or Prescott and complain they get screwed on home or commercial work like my neighbor. She ended up spending more trying to get it cheap with Phx contractors. You get what you pay for people.