Getting prepared for a storm is a team effort. City crews are working hard to prepare storm drains, roadways and City facilities for what may become a very wet winter. This effort also requires help from San Diego residents and businesses.

Before it Rains

• Report non-emergency problems including but not limited to blocked storm drains, potholes and broken street lights via the Get it Done app.
• Sign up for Alert San Diego notifications for all your telephone numbers.
• Create a family communication plan to stay in touch with loved ones.
• Prepare your pets. Have transportation ready for all larger animals under your responsibility.
• If needed, sandbags are available at the following recreation centers: Allied Gardens, City Heights, Golden Hill, Martin Luther King Jr., North Clairemont, Robb, Sandley, San Ysidro and Scripps Ranch. For locations, vist the web site: local recreation centers. The limit is 10 bags per City of San Diego household or business, and sand is not provided.
• Prepare your home for an emergency.
• Visit the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to find your official flood map, access a range of other flood hazard products, and take advantage of tools for better understanding flood risks.
• Know the safest routes to and from home should flooding occur.
• Prepare your small business for an emergency.
• When placing your trash, yard, and recycle bins out on the street for collection, place each bin approximately two to three feet away from the curb, so they do not impede the storm water flowing on the street.
• Sweep up trash, sediment, and debris, and dispose of construction waste in the trash to avoid having these items enter and block the storm water collection system.

When Rains Arrive

• Report flooding to the City's emergency dispatch center at 619-527-7500
• For life threatening emergencies call 9-1-1.
• Report downed electrical lines or gas emergencies to San Diego Gas & Electric at 800-411-7343.
• Leave early if your property is in a flood zone. Water levels can rise fast once storms start. Do not hesitate to move if you see rising water.
• Follow all instructions issued by public safety personnel.
• Drive carefully! Take your time getting home or to work.
• Slow down and do not drive through standing water. Know a safe route out. Folleto en Español.

After Rains Pass

• Report non-emergency problems, including but not limited to blocked storm drains, potholes, and broken street lights via the Get it Done app.
• To report structural damage to your property or residence, call the City's emergency dispatch center at 619-527-7500.
• Contact your property insurance carrier to report damages to your property and learn how to file a claim with the City for flood damage.

Important Online Resources to Keep You Prepared

• Ready San Diego - A resource website for emergency preparedness in San Diego County.
• Ready (Federal) - A federal campaign that educates and empowers Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, such as natural and man-made disasters.
• Flood Preparedness - A California Department of Water Resources page to help residents prepare for a flood.
• California Office of Emergency Services - A State of California website that provides information on potential natural hazards that may exist in your area, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and tsunamis.

Important Online Resources to Keep You Safe

• San Diego County Emergency Site - Follow regional, emergency news updates from the County of San Diego.
• Emergency Notification System - Register for Alert San Diego, a system that allows the City to notify residents, within an area, of an emergency.

Weather Information Resources

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Keep up with active weather alerts and news from NOAA.
• Weather.com - Check your local forecast.
• National Weather Service Forecast Office (San Diego) - See National Weather Service reports and outlooks for San Diego.