With heavy rains forecast for the Bay Area this week and a National Weather Service Wind Advisory in effect starting Tuesday night, take time now to prepare for storms and possible flooding throughout the winter:

• Clean on and around your property as needed: gutters, rain downspouts, driveways, and culverts. Remove trash and debris around fences and gardens.
• Clear basement drains.
• Check submersible pumps and sump pumps to make sure they are operating properly.

If your home has a history of flooding, it could flood again if significant rains occur. Take extra precautions now to protect your property:

• Have sandbags on hand. Piedmont residents can get 10 free sandbags per household at the City’s Corporation Yard (898 Red Rock Road), Monday-Friday, 7am-3:30pm.
• Take photos of each room in your home, in case they are needed for insurance purposes.

Plan ahead for power outages

During storms, damage to power lines may cause outages.

• Sign up for outage alerts from PG&E to receive status updates by text, email, or phone when outages occur at your address.
• Keep flashlights for every member of your household and spare batteries on hand.
• Stock up on food, water, necessary medications, pet needs, and other essential supplies in case of road closures or multi-day power outages.

If you experience a power outage:

• Unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored.
• Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns.
• Turn your appliances back on one at a time.

During storms, call to report issues

During storms, call to report clogged storm drains, fallen trees that block roads, or other storm damage:

• Fallen trees blocking roads or other storm damage to City infrastructure: call (510) 420-3050 during business hours or (510) 420-3000 after 5pm.
• Downed power lines: call (510) 420-3000.
• Sparking or smoking power lines: Call 9-1-1.