Oakland, CA –An atmospheric river will bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Bay Area throughout this week and weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The City of Oakland encourages residents to review the storm readiness information and resources available here https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/winter-storms and take steps now to prepare for potential weather impacts.
Oakland Public Works and the City of Oakland Department of Transportation have been conducting their regular pre-storm activities to help mitigate weather impacts and enable crews to respond as effectively as possible to any requests for services. City crews are in the process of:
- Cleaning storm drains, inlets, culverts, and drainage structures
- Laying down plastic tarp and sandbags in areas that have seen previous mudslides or flooding
- Coordinating planning efforts with other agencies in the region
Volunteer with Adopt-a-Drain to Help Minimize Flooding
Residents and businesses can help minimize flooding in their neighborhood by volunteering with the City’s Adopt-A-Drain program to keep a storm drain near their home or business free of debris. More than 1,750 drains have been adopted by Oaklanders, but many thousands more remain. Volunteers receive notification emails before large storm events and are eligible to borrow rakes, brooms, dust pans, bags, and other supplies from the City. Remember: “Clear the drain before the rain.” To sign up, visit https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/sign-up-for-adopt-a-drain or call (510) 238-7630.
Preparedness Tips for Residents and Businesses
Simple preparation steps taken now can go a long way toward lessening the impact of weather-related and other emergencies. Members of the public should review their emergency plans and prepare their families, homes, and vehicles. Here are some suggested steps:
- Clear your gutters and downspouts; ensure downspouts are working and pointing away from your house
- Keep your curbs and sidewalk gutters clear of leaves and debris (and please dispose of them in your green bins – do not sweep them into the gutter)
- Check the storm drain near your house and use a rake to keep it clear of debris (see Adopt-a-Drain information above.)
- Check that backflow prevention devices on sewer laterals/cleanouts are functioning properly – or consult a plumber to have one installed.
- Trim trees on your property to help them handle wind and rain; call a certified arborist to inspect your trees if you observe unusual leaning or dead branches
- Check out your local hardware store for flood prevention tools and techniques such as using sandbags to divert water away from your property or prevent it from coming in through doors and basement windows
- Review your property insurance; if you don’t have flood insurance, consider getting it now – it takes 30 days to take effect
- Review emergency procedures and evacuation plans at your children’s schools
- Make sure you have emergency supplies to last for at least three days, including enough water, food, medicine and other supplies for family members and pets
In the event of flood conditions, use caution when walking near high flowing creek channels and avoid walking, riding, or driving into standing water or around a barricade. Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, or electrical wires. Additional flood safety tips and resources are available on the National Weather Service website here: https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Emergency Sandbags and Plastic Sheeting
When heavy rains are forecast, Public Works will provide emergency sandbags (up to 10) and plastic sheeting (up to 20 feet) to Oakland residents and business owners while supplies last, to help divert runoff away from buildings and to help prevent flooding and mudslides. Bring your ID to prove residency. Be prepared to fill your own bags if needed.
Locations and hours:
Municipal Service Center, 7101 Edgewater Drive
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Drainage Services Facility, 5921 Shepherd Canyon Road
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
How to Report Flood-Related or Storm-Related Problems
For storm-related emergencies on public property and in the public right-of-way (such as flooding, mudslides, landslides, downed trees or tree limbs, and manholes overflowing onto streets and sidewalks), contact OAK 311. Dial 311 from any phone within Oakland or call 510-615-5566.
For non-emergencies, you can contact OAK311 in other ways:
- Email: OAK311@oaklandca.gov
- Online: http://311.oaklandca.gov/
- Mobile App: https://seeclickfix.com/us-ca-oakland or the OAK311 app available in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Androids
For downed power lines or if you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and then call 9-1-1 or PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
For power outage alerts go online to pge.com/outage.
For water service emergencies (e.g., no water service, broken hydrants, broken water main pipes), contact EBMUD at 1-866-403-2683.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1 from a land line or (510) 777-3211 from a cell phone.
For non-emergency community resource referrals, call 211 anytime or text 898211 Monday through Friday between 9am and 4pm for assistance.
Please keep these numbers handy for emergencies and share them with neighbors.
Stay up to Date on Emergencies and Public Safety
The public is encouraged to subscribe to AC Alert, a unified emergency notification system for Alameda County residents, businesses, and visitors. The system allows subscribers to provide up to five locations (such as a school, home, work, or an elder dependent’s address) and receive email or text message updates when an emergency alert impacts one of their self-identified locations. Visit www.acalert.org to sign up.
For more information on winter storm preparedness, visit https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/winter-storms
# # #
