Sacramento County is in the midst of another round of storms that are predicted to cause more localized flooding with creeks, streams and rivers. Forecasts have indicated rain through the the weekend, with a strong storm system coming in Monday.
Due to previously saturated grounds and high winds, we may see downed power lines, toppled trees and fences. Please secure furniture, propane tanks, and check trees close to buildings and review thunder safety tips. Residents may also review downed power line tips and information for patients who rely on specialized medical equipment at home.
For those living in areas that have experienced flooding, check with your insurance company about damages to your property and study the safety tips for returning home after a flood.
Here are more tips for preparing for coming storms:
Get the Information You Need
- Sign-up for Emergency Alerts. This system alerts residents about emergency events and other important public safety information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. www.sacramento-alert.org
Flood Preparedness: Home
Food Safety: Preparing for a Flood & Power Outages
- Freeze containers of water now to help keep food cold during an outage.
- Put thermometers in fridge and freezer.
- Store raw meat/poultry/seafood below other foods in fridge/freezer.
- Store canned/pre-packaged food, and one gallon per person per day of water at a higher level.
- When the power goes out: add ice blocks to fridge/freezer & try to keep doors closed; never use generators or outdoor grills/stoves indoors; and throw out food that’s been over 41˚F for more than four hours. Get food safety preparation details.
Flood Prep for Household Cleaners and other Hazardous Materials
- Whether it’s drain cleaner, anti-freeze, weed killer or disinfectants and cleaners, keep products in their original containers, seal them tightly and store all hazardous products on high shelves or in locked cabinets away from food items and sources of ignition. Properly dispose of unwanted hazardous products: www.wmr.saccounty.net. Get household hazardous materials disaster preparation details.
Flood Safety Tips
- Take caution with electrical lines and devices near water.
- In an event with high winds, secure outdoor furniture.
- Disconnect electrical appliances and do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
- Power outages may be likely.
- Carbon Monoxide is a “silent killer.” It is not OK to heat the inside of your home with any kind of BBQ, propane heater, or any other fuel-fired equipment. Only use heaters installed with your home and those designed to be used indoors. Make sure that your natural gas furnaces and other appliances are in good, clean working order.
- Do not cross flooded roads. Remember, Turn Around, Don’t Drown - six inches of moving water can knock you down and two feet of water can sweep vehicles away.
Flood Preparedness: Livestock
- Keep halters ready for your horses. On each halter attach a luggage tag with the following information: the horse's name, your name, email address, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number. At the time of evacuation, consider additional temporary identification such as a leg band.
- Make arrangements in advance to have your livestock trailer hooked up to your vehicle in case of an emergency. If you don’t have your own trailer or don’t have enough room in your trailer for livestock, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate them. .
- Contact neighbors, friends, family prior to a disaster to make arrangements to take your large animal to stay on their property until you can return to your home.
- Be sure to bring food and necessary medicines in case your livestock will be there a while.
- Ensure that poultry have access to high areas in which to perch, if they are in a flood-prone area, as well as to food and clean water.
- Remove all barbed wire, and consider rerouting permanent fencing so that animals may move to high ground in a flood and to low-lying areas during high winds.
Monitor Roadways and Local Waterways
- Monitor the Sacramento County Road Closures page and sign up for road closure email notifications. Remember to heed road closure signs and don’t attempt to drive through floodwater.
- Report downed trees in Sacramento County unincorporated area roadways by calling 311 or 916-875-4311 or online at www.311.saccounty.net.
- Monitor the level of Sacramento County waterways on SacFlood.org.
- Report Flooding – Call 311 or (916) 875-4311 to report localized flooding.