SMC Shares Storm Prep Ideas For The Winter Ahead

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County is sharing a few tips to help residents prepare for the winter months in light of forecasts that suggest another season of above-average precipitation for the Bay Area.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects El Niño to stick around into the spring, potentially evolving into a very strong phenomenon. The latest seasonal predictions favor wetter conditions prevailing across the Golden State between December and February.

"The time to prepare is now, not when the waters are rising and the winds are blowing," said Shruti Dhapodkar, director of the county's Department of Emergency Management. "We know it can feel a bit overwhelming — yet another to-do list during the holiday season. To make it a bit easier, we've created a simple step-by-step guide. It's not much more complicated than figuring out what you would need if you and your family decided to hunker down at home for a few days."

The county's checklist includes things like ensuring people are signed up for SMC Alert, assembling emergency kits, making evacuation plans and taking seasonal precautions around the home like cleaning out gutters and turning off watering systems.

Residents in unincorporated areas can also secure up to 15 free sandbags from the county, to guard against floodwaters.

Here are a few winter storm tips from San Mateo County:

Check or build your emergency kit.

• Keep flashlights, extra batteries and extra blankets handy, as well as a can opener, medicine, first aid supplies and a fire extinguisher. Also, stock up on nonperishable foods, such as dry cereal, nuts and protein bars. Try to stockpile at least one gallon of water per person a day for three days.
• Ready.gov abounds with information in multiple languages, with tips on creating low-cost kits.

Know your zone and make an evacuation plan.

• Public safety agencies throughout San Mateo County use Genasys (formerly known as Zonehaven) to communicate areas that are being evacuated due to fire or other emergencies.
• Areas of the county are assigned a specific short code – a zone. All residents can enter an address to find their zone. These zones will be pushed out via emergency alerts, County social media platforms and the news media in the event of evacuation orders or other emergencies. Download the Genasys app.

Steps you can take to prepare your home.

• Before the rain starts falling, clean out gutters and downspouts. Turn off automatic watering systems.
• If you live in a multi-family building, have a plan for how to evacuate and where to meet your loved ones. Learn your building’s layout and evacuation plan -- most buildings post an evacuation plan in common areas that lead you to safety. Get to know multiple escape routes in case the closest one is blocked in an emergency.
• If the power goes out, never heat your home with a camp stove, oven or charcoal-burning device.