Storms
We're Getting Storm Ready, Are You?
The County of San Mateo Department of Emergency Management cautions residents to prepare for severe weather, sign up for emergency alerts, monitor weather forecasts and avoid driving during heavy rains.
For families or individuals in need of shelter due to the cold temperatures and inclement weather, please call Fair Oaks Community Center (650) 780-7500 or visit us at 2600 Middlefield Road, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If after hours, call (650) 780-7100 (Police Dispatch) to access emergency shelter. We are here to help.
Click on the buttons below to watch quick videos on how to get storm ready!
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Get Connected
Check the following to stay up to date on storm-related information and local resources:
- Sign up for SMC Alert, which sends emergency messages to email, cell phones and other devices and landline telephones
- Get news and information on social media:
- County of San Mateo
- San Mateo County Sheriff
- National Weather Service Bay Area
- City of Redwood City Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Find out about road conditions, power outages, park closures and more:
- Stay off the roads if you can. If you must travel, do not drive into flooded areas. A foot of water can float many cars, and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.
- Preparedness Tips. Keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Here are preparedness tips from Ready.gov.
- Know your zone. Emergency managers have carved the Peninsula into more than 300 zones on an online, publicly available map supported by Zonehaven, a California-based company under contract with the County of San Mateo. Each zone is assigned a short code. All residents can enter an address to find their zone. In an emergency, first responders will issue evacuation or other orders and advisories based on the zones. This information will be pushed out via the news media, social media such as Twitter, emergency alert notifications and other platforms.
- Call 9-1-1 only in emergencies. An emergency is any serious medical problem (chest pain, seizure, bleeding), any type of fire (business, car, building), any life-threatening situation (fights, person with weapons) or to report crimes in progress. Do not call 911 for a non-emergency.
Storm Preparedness Checklist
The community is encouraged to take precautions and prepare for the upcoming storm season. View the info below for helpful resources and tips on how to be storm ready.
Winter Storm Preparedness Flyer: English, en Español
| Top 10 Storm Preparation Tips | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Clear gutters and catch basins of debris and leaves. Help keep our creeks and Bay clean by never dumping into a catch basin. |
| 2 | For property owners with natural creek beds on their property, clear creek beds of debris. |
| 3 | Sign-up for Emergency Alerts and Notifications Here. |
| 4 | Build a Storm Kit: Keep needed emergency supplies in your home, at work, and in your car and discuss emergency plans with your family. |
| 5 | Build a sandbag wall to channel water to a drain or gutter. Sandbags are available at 1400 Broadway. |
| 6 | Have plywood, plastic sheeting, and other emergency building materials available in advance and keep handy for waterproofing. |
| 7 | Notify San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District of any standing water issues: http://www.smcmvcd.org |
| 8 | Learn more about the City's rain barrel rebates to save rain water for residential gardening and other uses at home: http://bawsca.org/conservation/rain-barrel-rebate-program |
| 9 | Know your flood zone designation and your specific flood hazard. Obtain flood insurance if you are in a high-risk flood area. Homeowner insurance policies don't cover flood damage. |
| 10 | Plan in advance to assist your neighbors or have them help you. |
Resources
- Storm Preparation Information
- Fight Flooding at Home Brochure
- San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program
- Protect Our Creeks and Waterways Pamphlet
- Storm Drain System Overview Presentation
- Controlling Mosquitoes
- Redwood Shores Lagoon Management Plan (draft)
- The Bay and Ocean Begin At Your Front Door
- Creek Care Guide For Residents & Businesses
- Creekside Property Owner's Guide - English, en Español
