The long points were kept erect by being stuffed with moss or straw and could be made out of fancy decorative fabrics or sturdier leather.

The short and sturdy posts - made of concrete, metal or other materials - are meant to block cars from entering pedestrian areas.

“Take shelter now in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building,” a National Weather Service advisory warned on social media.

I stepped into the austere spa room at Pause, a wellness center in Studio City, and a sturdy massage table commanded the space.

A recent haul included a ham sandwich, fresh tortilla chips, pork burritos and a sturdy little tub of mushroom barley soup.