Emergency Weather and Flooding Possible in Northern California, Tips to Stay Safe

November 28, 2012

Greetings,

As you may know, Northern California is expected to experience extreme weather through Sunday. Parts of Northern California could see upwards of 10 inches of rain and flooding is expected.

As a resident of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, my family will be closely monitoring the fragile levees near our home. We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, and so should you. Below is some information I hope you find useful.

Preparing for Flooding and Emergency Weather Conditions

Monitor local Internet, radio, and television reports. You are advised to have a battery powered radio in case the power goes out.
Be prepared to evacuate immediately. Consider packing a bag with necessary supplies, including bottled water, medications, a warm change of clothes, nonperishable food, and personal hygiene supplies. Include immunization records and allergy information to provide emergency personnel all the information they need if you are injured
.
Stock up on bottled water and food that requires minimal preparation and no refrigeration. Procure candles, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, emergency food, a non-electric can opener, sturdy water resistant shoes, sleeping bags, blankets, and baby supplies if applicable. Have cash on hand for emergency purchases. Fill up your gas tank in advance of the storm.
Clear drains near your house of all debris, including leaves.
Teach your children how and when to call 911 and what to listen for in a radio broadcast. Teach them how to turn off gas, electricity, and water in the case of an emergency.
Keep cell phones fully charged. If the power goes out, consider conserving cell phone power by reducing illumination and disabling Internet and e-mail access when not in use.
Listen to emergency personnel. If you are told to evacuate, evacuate!
Unless emergency personnel tell you otherwise, stay off the roads as best you can. Your obstructed car could hamper emergency response and put lives at risk – possibly your own.
If you have a basement, seal cracks in the walls. If your door is at or near ground level, consider procuring sand bags or other barriers. Helpful emergency materials to have in supply include lumber, nails, hammers, saws, and shovels.
Disconnect all unnecessary appliances.
Have a plan for pets, including sufficient food and water to survive up to four days. Many emergency shelters will not take them in.
Bring outdoor furniture inside. Remove your most valuable belongings and important documents from the first floor or basement. Consider purchasing waterproof bags for photos and other irreplaceables.
Fill bathtubs and sinks with fresh water.
Inform local authorities about anyone in your family with special needs, like people with disabilities or people who have difficulty walking.
Purchase a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
Arrange an emergency communication plan. If your family is separated during a flood, how will you contact each other? Consider designating a friend or relative out of state or in Southern California as the family contact person. If your family is separated, you and your family should know your emergency contact’s phone number.
Have an evacuation plan. Where will you and your family go to seek higher ground if the worst happens?

During Flood Conditions

Do not walk through moving water. The current is stronger than you realize.
If you are in a situation where you must walk in water, walk where water is not moving. Consider using a stick to scout the ground in front of you.
Do not touch electrical equipment if you or the equipment are wet or standing in water.
If you must evacuate, turn off utilities if it is safe to do so.
Do not drive in flooded areas, no matter how shallow the water may appear. Water can obscure holes and dips in the road. If you see a flooded road, turn around.
If your car becomes partially submerged, abandon your car and move to higher ground. If your car is stalled, abandon it immediately. Your life is more valuable than your car.

After a Flood

Confirm water supply is safe before drinking from a faucet.
Avoid roads that were previously flooded. Conditions on the road can deteriorate and you and your car could still be at risk.
Avoid downed power lines and report them to local authorities.
Clean everything in your home exposed to flood waters. The water could be contaminated.
Do not use electrical equipment that has been exposed to water. Before turning it back on, consult an electrician. This is a fire risk.

My staff will be monitoring the storm and providing updates on my Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/repgaramendi) and Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/repgaramendi) pages through the duration. We will do what we can to get you the information you need to know, but your first source of information should be local radio and television.

Stay safe. We’ll get through this.

Sincerely,

John Garamendi