Updated 2:20 p.m.: The announced that school will remain closed on Friday, Dec. 2, due to power outages and wind damage.
Previously: Monrovia's emergency services will be on high alert Thursday night in preparation for another possible severe windstorm after and knocked out power to wide swaths of the city.
Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz joined Police Chief Jim Hunt and Fire Chief Christopher Donovan on the steps of city hall Thursday afternoon to give an overview of the damage already caused and to warn residents to brace for more.
"We're hearing that the weather will be as severe as last night if not worse," Lutz said.
About 13,000 Monrovia homes and businesses after a windstorm overnight uprooted about 150 trees and forced the city to declare a state of emergency. Authorities received more than 400 emergency calls, though no one was injured as a result of the winds that reached upwards of 60 mph.
So far, 16 cars, six fences and seven buildings have been damaged by the winds, Lutz said.
Extra firefighters and police officers will be on duty Thursday night in preparation for another expected windstorm, and officials urged citizens to stay indoors and away from any exposed power lines.
The major thoroughfares in Monrovia have been cleared, but "massive" amounts of debris remains in many city streets. Many stop lights are still inoperable, and Hunt reminded residents to treat intersections as four-way stops in such circumstances.
Lutz said public works crews are prioritizing their clean up efforts with the expectation that things could get worse.
"We're cleaning up based on the most needed," Lutz said. "We're trying to look at damage that could get more severe overnight."
No evacuation center has been needed yet but Lutz said one could be organized at a moments notice. The city's usually serves as its evacuation center, but it was still without power Thursday afternoon.
