Be Storm Ready & Take Precautions Now

Published in

PaloAltoConnect

7 min readJan 4, 2023

On New Year’s Eve, Palo Alto and the Bay Area saw a significant storm event, with overnight rain levels three times the forecast. Local Palo Alto creek area water levels rose very quickly causing flooding of homes and roadways, and leaving mud and debris. A new storm is headed our way, along with additional flooding risk. The worst of the storm is expected to occur overnight Wednesday to Thursday. This means that the majority of the rain will fall after dark, and any flooding risk that may occur will likely happen during the nighttime hours. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning in effect for the same period, with gusts of wind exceeding 50 mph.

A multi-departmental City response is continuing to prepare for the upcoming storm and are in regular communication with our regional partners regarding preparations. Crews are continuing efforts to prepare the storm drain system for the coming storm, focusing on cleaning up from the December 31 storm. Crews are also staging equipment near where it will be needed most to facilitate a quick response once the storm hits.

We are asking the public to prepare now and stay informed. Our community is stronger together, please help neighbors and others who need help getting prepared.

STAY INFORMED

Stay apprised of current and forecast conditions. Get notifications from the City via AlertSCC, City of Palo Alto Twitter, Facebook, Nextdoor, and the Police Department’s Nixle feed. Click here to connect. Daily updates at a minimum will continue, read latest at: www.cityofpaloalto.org/floodalert.

Stay connected on social media. If you are posting storm-related photos and/or videos that were taken in Palo Alto on your social media accounts, consider adding the hashtag #PaloAltoStorm to your post. This will provide an easy way for everyone on that platform, as well as the City, to share relevant Palo Alto-specific information with one another. Please note that the City will not be able to monitor that hashtag in real-time, and that any emergencies requiring a City response should be reported via 9–1–1 and NOT social media.

Share information with neighbors. Help your neighbors, friends, and family by sharing information you gain. Being a good neighbor includes making sure all are aware and informed.

STAY SAFE — REMINDERS

Please do your best to stay safe during adverse weather events so that you will not unintentionally contribute to the number of emergencies to which our first responders must respond. Here are some safety reminders:

Driving. Please slow down and allow for extra braking distance. Do NOT drive into areas of standing water, as you will not know how deep the water is or the condition of the roadway underneath the water. You may become stranded and require rescue.
Stay away from creeks. Do NOT approach San Francisquito Creek or other area creeks; the creek banks could be unstable and give way. Do NOT approach areas of running water, even on streets. Running water can be exceptionally strong.
Only call 9–1–1 in emergencies. Do NOT call 9–1–1 unless there is an imminent threat to life or another serious emergency. Unnecessary 9–1–1 calls detract from our ability to promptly dispatch first responders to legitimate emergencies.
Do NOT remove manhole covers. That will not help drain water off of roadways and instead will create a dangerous condition for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Don’t handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. If you have concerns about electrical wiring, power lines or equipment on your property, call (650) 496–6914 to verify the safety.

PREPARE NOW

Residents in flood risk areas should take precautions and safeguard your home as much as possible, particularly if your neighborhood experienced flooding during the December 31 storm event. Please be a good neighbor and offer your assistance to your neighbors if you’re able. Use this list to prepare ahead of the storm and find more at www.ready.gov/floods.

Be Evacuation Ready. Make a plan for your household. In case you are required to evacuate your home, be prepared by packing a “go bag” to evacuate quickly.

Have extra supplies and food at home in case of closed roads/power outages
Plan for pets needs
Keep important documents in a waterproof container
Move valuables to higher levels
Declutter drains and gutters
Check on and help neighbors

For other resources, go here.

Prepare now for how to turn off your home’s electrical power and gas, just in case. Take the time now to locate your home’s electrical breaker box and gas turn-off valve.

Residents in flood prone areas are welcome to move cars to a safer location. Options to park include surface lots in Downtown. Residential preferential parking (RPP) programs and timed parking regulations are temporarily suspended during the upcoming storm.

For other ways to be storm-ready, visit our website at www.cityofpaloalto.org/storms.

REPORT DAMAGE & HOW TO RECEIVE SUPPORT

Report Flood Damage

For residents who have flood damage to their homes from the December 31 storm event, please fill out this online form at www.cityofpaloalto.org/ReportFloodDamage, and City building officials will follow-up. The City has established a process to offer three nights of hotel accommodations at select hotels for those who are confirmed to have been displaced from their homes as a result of flooding. Please use stormdamage@cityofpaloalto.org to request accommodations.

Due to resource limitations, the City is unable to assist with pumping water out of homes or basements. Please contact your home insurance company to determine what assistance they may be able to provide or recommend.

Community Resource Center to Open Wednesday

A Community Resource Center will open at Rinconada Library’s Embarcadero Room in the afternoon on Wednesday, January 4 through to Thursday, if residents need a warm and dry location away from their home to relocate and gather. Visitors can also charge devices, use a laptop, find a hotel, and determine next steps.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE

If you are instructed to evacuate, please leave immediately. Having a “go bag” ready and in your car will help you leave quicker. Prior to evacuation, follow these tips to best prepare your family to leave. Evacuating early also helps keep roads clear of congestion; if you are advised to leave, don’t hesitate.

Ensure your emergency supply kit is in your vehicle — when assembling your kit, plan to be away from your home for at least three days and don’t forget to plan for your pets or livestock
Fully fill up your vehicle’s gas tank
Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave

WAYS TO HELP

Be safe Palo Alto and help each other during this time. If your home is safe from flooding and you’d like to help others, here are some suggestions:

Check on your neighbors. Offer your assistance, particularly to those who may be elderly or infirm. Offer to help get them sandbags for their home if needed. Ensure they have a way to get current information on potential flooding or commit to them that you will monitor current information and share it with them when needed. Ensure they know they can call 9–1–1 if they need emergency assistance.
Help pack sandbags. It may be hard for some people to use a shovel to fill their own sandbags or to load them into their vehicle. If you want to help, head to one of the four sandbag stations and see if anyone there needs assistance. Please do not overfill the sandbags — they only need to filled about 1/3 of the way with sand. Watch this one-minute video from our partners at Valley Water on how to properly fill and pack a sandbag. To learn how to protect your home from water using filled sandbags, watch this five-minute video from Valley Water. The four sandbag stations are located at:

Rinconada Tennis Courts (at the corner of Newell Road and Hopkins Avenue)
Mitchell Park (600 East Meadow Drive)
Palo Alto Airport Terminal (1925 Embarcadero Road)
Palo Alto Avenue at Chaucer Street

Clear Storm drains. If you have a storm drain inlet near your home in the street, consider using a rake and clearing any debris (leaves, tree branches, etc.) that may have accumulated over the grate. If possible, please place organic matter into your compost bins. This will help reduce ponding on our roadways. Encourage your neighbors to do the same thing.
Report issues to the City promptly.

For blocked storm drains, sink holes, landslides, levee damage, and fallen trees, call Palo Alto Public Works at (650) 496–6974 on weekdays from 7 a.m. — 4 p.m. and (650) 329–2413 after hours.
For gas leaks and sewer spills, call Palo Alto Utilities Water, Gas, Wastewater Operations at (650) 329–2579.
For power outages and electrical problems, call Palo Alto Utilities Electric Operations at (650) 496–6914.