CITY PLANS AHEAD FOR EL NINO RAIN; THOUSAND OAKS AGENCIES PREPARE FOR WORST.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

No one knows how much rain El Nino is going to bring - some forecasters estimate three times the average precipitation - but city officials say they'll be ready when winter arrives.

Preparations have been under way for three months, with staffers completing plans for handling the floods and landslides that could accompany heavy rain. In an average winter, about 15 inches of rain falls in Thousand Oaks.

``All of us here know what each other's resources are,'' Public Works Director Don Nelson said. ``The key here is to an overall plan to respond.''

With the commitment of military officers planning an attack, city officials have been working out the logistics of how to deploy resources during an emergency.

``It's really been how will we react and respond?'' Nelson said. ``You can't predict what will happen, but if you know what resources you have to deal with, you're a step ahead of the game.''

El Nino is an oceanic warming and weather phenomenon that occurs occasionally in the tropical Pacific. In preparation for its expected effects, Public Works crews plan to fill and stockpile 1,500 sandbags to distribute in case of flooding.

The city prepares sandbags for every rainy season, but this winter an additional 5,000 empty bags will be added to the city's reserve stock of 4,500.

Crews have checked and cleaned every storm drain and bridge in the city, Nelson said.

Contracts also have been preapproved for labor, emergency services and equipment such as cranes, backhoes and front-end loaders that can quickly clear away large amounts of debris.

``They're basically on call if we need them,'' said Kurt Reithmayr, an engineering division manager.

In the past, Newbury Road west of Kelly Road has flooded, so the city has detour plans ready to go, Nelson said.

And the city has stockpiled rock from the many construction projects in town so work crews will be able to repair stream beds that wash out, Reithmayr said. Piles have been stored at key areas, including the south end of Moorpark Road, so they are easily accessible.

New two-way radios will help disaster coordinators communicate, and the city has ordered additional rain gear so that it can get more people out into the field, he said.

``I think it's pretty well thought out,'' Reithmayr said.

The city has updated its contact numbers and lists for emergency agencies like the American Red Cross. City staffers also will be on call.

The city periodically checks telephone numbers and procedures, but city staffers wanted to make sure everything was up to date because of predictions for an especially soggy winter, officials said.

The city already has plans to remind people to fix their leaky roofs and clean their drains to prepare for the expected storms.

Other preparations include the cleaning and checking of all debris basins, which are basically widened areas of streams that slow the flowing water and allow sediment to drop to the bottom, Nelson said.