The week of Oct. 17 through Oct. 24 is Flood Preparedness Week in California. This is the time when you should look at reducing the risk of flooding in your area.
It is important for you to know how much flood risk there is to your home or business. The Department of Water Resources has information to help you understand the threat flooding may pose to your property. Log onto
StormReady.org and click Flood Zone Information to learn more about your flood risk.
The best way to reduce risk to you and your property is by being proactive before the rain falls.
- Clear storm drains of leaves and debris in front of your home or business
- Call 3-1-1 for County crews to clear the clogs in the unincorporated area
- Have sandbags prefilled and ready to go
- Don’t drive through flooded streets…turn around, don’t drown
You should also think about flood insurance. In Sacramento County, nearly 20 percent of flood insurance claims come from moderate to low-risk areas. You can still obtain flood insurance if your home or business is not in the mapped floodplain but remember it takes 30-days for a new policy to become active.
Sacramento County takes part in a special Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program that helps reduce the cost of flood insurance. Through FEMA, if you live a designated Special Flood Hazard Area, you can save up to 40 percent per year on the full cost of a standard flood insurance policy. Talk to your insurance agent about this option.
Now is the time to develop an evacuation plan. Figure out now where you will go and what you should take.
Use these five Ps to help you gather the important items should you need to leave your home.
- People and pets
- Papers (important documents)
- Prescriptions (medication, eyeglasses, hearing aids)
- Pictures (Irreplaceable memories)
- Personal computer
Sacramento County will open up sandbag locations in November for residents in the unincorporated area, and extra will open depending on emergency need. You can find out where open locations by visiting
StormReady.org. If you live in a flood-prone area, this will offer up the chance to grab sandbags prior to the rainy season. The County supplies the sand and bags, but you need a shovel. Use Flood Preparedness Week to make yourself Storm Ready.