The Bay Area will be hit by what the National Weather Service predicts will be “heavy to excessive rainfall,” the first in a series of winter storms that will test the capabilities of public agencies across the region.

The county provides information on key resources and ways to prepare as the National Weather Service warns that "The Storm is Coming!"

As for travel, authorities urge you to stay off the roads if you can. If you must travel, do not drive into flooded areas. Remember that one foot of water can float many cars, and two feet of rushing water can sweep away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks. 

Also, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. 

Among the preparedness tips, San Mateo County is offering sandbags to residents and businesses in unincorporated areas. 

Here is a map and a list of pickup locations in unincorporated areas, in addition to a list of places in cities.

Residents needing non-emergency storm-related assistance should call 2-1-1. The county and cities are coordinating to open temporary evacuation sites, the first point of contact for evacuees during an emergency. These sites begin the process of finding suitable short- or long-term shelter. Evacuation assistance is available for those who need it.

Remember to call 9-1-1 only in emergencies. An emergency is any serious medical problem ‒ chest pain, seizures, bleeding‒, any type of fire ‒ business, car, building‒, any life-threatening situation ‒ fights, person with weapons‒ or to report crimes in progress.

Stay up to date on storm-related information and local resources. You can check the following Local hazardous conditions by address and other county storm-related news and information.

Also, don't forget to register at SMC Alert, that sends emergency messages to email, cell phones and other devices, and landlines.

On social media like Twitter, you can follow the San Mateo County Sheriff: https://twitter.com/SMCSheriff, or to San Mateo County itself: https://twitter.com/sanmateoco and to the National Weather Service Bay Area: https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea.

Some websites that may be of interest in these circumstances for information regarding San Mateo County Office of Education school closings: https://www.smcoe.org/for-communities/alert.html; Caltrans Highway Information: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/Pacific Gas and Electric Outage Center: https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outagecenter/; and the National Weather Service Bay Area: https://www.weather.gov/mtr/. 

You may be interested in: Governor Newsom declares a State of Emergency in the face of the major storm that is expected

In an effort to protect Californians from the coming winter storms, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California on Wednesday to support the ongoing response to recent winter storms.

The emergency proclamation supports emergency relief efforts, including authorizing the mobilization of the California National Guard to support disaster response, and directs Caltrans to request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program to support highway repairs and other support for local response and recovery efforts.

Newsom also activated the State Operations Center to its highest level, and the state and federal governments launched the Flood Operations Center, which covers forecasting, coordinating reservoir operations and providing technical support as well as flood-fighting materials such as sandbags for local workers.

“California is mobilizing to keep people safe from the impacts of the approaching storm,” the governor said. “This state of emergency will allow the state to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local officials in their ongoing response.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rain and snow, strong winds and the possibility of additional flood threats.

The heaviest rainfall is expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning in Northern California, extending into Thursday night in Southern California. Residual flooding impacts could extend into the weekend along with additional storms lingering into next week.

In response, the state has pre-positioned equipment, rescue personnel and firefighters to support local resources across the state. Crews will be quickly mobilized in the event of mudflows, avalanches or flash floods.

The California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) has engaged with local and community partners to ensure that vulnerable groups—people with disabilities, seniors, and unsheltered people—are aware of the approaching storm and have access to services should they need them.

Additionally, the Department of Social Services is prepared to work alongside local partners and the American Red Cross to establish congregate shelters, while the Department of Public Health is prepared to deploy regional staff to support hospitals and health care facilities.

The Department of Health Care Information and Access is prepared to send structural engineers to health care facilities to assess infrastructure impacts, and the Emergency Medical Services Authority is prepared to deploy Ambulance Strike Teams.

Given the risks, the state is urging people to avoid non-essential travel during the peak of the storm on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. However, if you must drive, download the QuickMap app for up-to-date information on road conditions, traffic, closures, chain monitoring and more.

In light of potential power outages, officials suggest taking inventory of items you need that rely on electricity. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs if the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank.
Have flashlights for each household member, and determine if your home phone will work in a power outage and how long the backup battery will last.

Californians are reminded to dial 2-1-1 or 3-1-1 for help or questions. If you are experiencing a critical emergency, call 911.

Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts, including evacuation warnings and advisories. Go to www.CalAlerts.org to sign up to receive alerts from your county officials.

Flood risk

If you are under a flood warning, find safe shelter immediately – do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep away your vehicle.

Stay away from bridges over fast-moving water.

Know your medical needs and talk to your medical provider about a power-off plan for electrically powered medical devices and refrigerated medications. Know how long your medications can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any life-critical medications.

Remember that portable backup generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous gas. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. It takes the lives of hundreds of people each year and makes thousands more sick.

So, never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if the doors and windows are open, only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors and windows.

food storage

Remember to have enough nonperishable food and water for each member of your household for three days. Open freezers and refrigerators only when necessary. Your refrigerator can keep food cold for four hours. A full freezer will maintain the temperature for two days. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer. Throw away food if temperatures reach 40 degrees or higher.

You may be interested in: San Mateo County activates emergency operations center

*Local state of emergency declared due to ongoing storms

Recent heavy rains and the forecast for more on the way prompted San Mateo County to declare a local state of emergency Tuesday, while announcing the activation of its Emergency Operations Center.

The County activated its Emergency Operations Center to serve as the 24-hour nerve center that coordinates resources and communication with local, regional and state agencies and response partners.

“These storms have already displaced some residents and caused damage. It is important that we have a coordinated response to prioritize public safety, especially for those who reside in areas more prone to flooding,” said County Executive Mike Callagy. 

Callagy, who also serves as the County's Emergency Services Director, signed the disaster proclamation and the Board of Supervisors ratified it this morning. 

The atmospheric river over the New Year's Eve weekend recorded record levels of rainfall, including about 5.8 inches in the 24-hour period beginning early on Dec. 31.

Impacts so far include:

• Major roads and highways were closed and several underpasses were flooded, including Holly Street in San Carlos and Harbor Boulevard in Belmont.
• Sewer treatment plans at risk of failure.
• Flooding on Pescadero Creek Road forced fire trucks to be relocated to the local high school campus.
• Evacuations are required at a mobile home community in Belmont and the Moonridge farmworker housing community; about 100 residents are temporarily housed in hotels.
• The closure of several county parks and trails.

In response, this morning the Board of Supervisors also ratified a local State of Emergency Declaration, following on the heels of the state declaration. 

The local declaration makes the county eligible for reimbursement for costs incurred in its emergency response to the current storms.           

The National Weather Service predicts the county will receive another 3.4 inches of rain starting midday Wednesday. Storms could continue through the upcoming weekend.

So far, the county has responded to the emergency by securing local hotel rooms for residents displaced by flooding; securing space for additional shelters on the coast if needed; and preparing an area for mass evacuation should it become necessary.

Additionally, San Mateo County has ordered 24,000 sandbags for distribution throughout the area, while Public Works Department crews are working around the clock to clear roads and debris.

Officials urged residents to review expanded health and safety guidelines for residents with flooded homes, as well as check with their city's Department of Public Works for sandbag availability and locations. 

In turn, you can check with your city's Emergency Operations Center or County Main Service Agencies if you need assistance in a shelter, and if you must evacuate, plan, get out early and save everyone.

Remember to sign up for warnings and emergency alerts at www.smcalert.info and check road closures and flooding in real time at https://aware.zonehaven.com/search. 

It is important to note that you can report flooding to your local city. In the unincorporated area, call the main DPW line at (650) 363-4100. 

Flooding on private property should be managed by the property owners.

You may be interested in: San Mateo County Expands Recommendations for Residents with Flooded Homes

Authorities urged residents with flooded homes to remain alert and follow certain recommendations, which have been expanded for the safety of residents, following the storms recorded over the New Year's weekend throughout the Bay Area, which caused severe flooding in various areas, landslides, rising rivers and falling trees, among others.

"As our community deals with the impacts of flooding on homes and property, the San Mateo County Health Department urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families," the county said in a statement.

Floodwater can contain untreated sewage, animal waste, toxic substances, chemical compounds, fungi, bacteria and other harmful materials, he said. Storm debris and the effects of power outages can present additional hazards.

Expanded Health and Safety Guidelines

• Wear boots and gloves when working in areas that have been flooded.
• Make sure the main electrical switch is off before entering a flooded structure. Do not turn it back on until you are sure there has been no damage to any wires or appliances connected to the electrical system.
• If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, call 911. Then call PG&E at (800) 743-5000. Warn your neighbors of the potential problem.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. If you have children who have been in contact with water, make sure they wash their hands too.
• Keep children and pets away from floodwaters and avoid outdoor areas that have recently flooded. Remove shoes and wipe paws before returning indoors.
• If you have open wounds or sores, protect them from water. Keep them clean by washing them with soap and applying antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. If a wound becomes red, swollen, or oozing, seek medical attention immediately.
• If you swallow flood water, you should consult a doctor immediately due to the risk of hepatitis A infection.
• If you are unsure of the quality of your drinking water, use bottled water. Check with your local water provider for any boil water orders. If you have a domestic well, it may require disinfection if it was affected by flooding. See guidelines here: smchealth.org/welluse
• Do not allow children to play with toys that have been in contact with flood water until the toys have been disinfected. You can disinfect toys with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach in one gallon of water.
• For general surface disinfection, use a cloth soaked with 1 tablespoon of bleach in one gallon of water.
• Contact your local sewer authority if you see solid waste coming from your sewage.
• Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if your home suffered water damage.
• See more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on flood recovery: www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html

food safety

• Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. Throw away any food that is not stored in a waterproof container if there is a chance it may have come into contact with flood water.
• Commercially canned foods that are not spoiled can be saved if you remove the labels from the cans, wash them thoroughly, and then sanitize them with a solution consisting of ¼ cup bleach in one gallon of water.
• Food containers with screw-on lids, snap-on lids, crimp-on lids (soda bottles), twist-on lids, flip-top lids, push-open lids, and home-canned foods should be thrown away if they have come into contact with flood water because they cannot be sanitized.
• If there was no power, throw away all discolored or bad-smelling food, especially meat, poultry, and fish in the refrigerator.
• Frozen food can last 48 to 72 hours if the freezer is full and the door is closed. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Thawed food is usually safe to eat if it is still “refrigerator” cold or can be refrozen if it still contains ice crystals. Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two (2) hours or more and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
• Discard fruits and vegetables that have been in contact with flood waters.

Upholstered clothing and furniture

• Wash all clothing, bedding and sheets in hot water or dry clean.
• For mattresses and upholstered furniture that cannot be dry cleaned or washed, dry them in the sun and spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant such as Lysol.

buildings and structures

• Clean walls, hard-surface floors, and other surfaces with soap and water. Disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach added to one gallon of water. Take special care to disinfect areas where food is stored or prepared, such as countertops, pantry shelves, refrigerator walls, and shelves.
• Prevent outside water from coming back into your home. Rainwater from gutters or the roof should drain away from the house; the ground around the house should slope away from the house to keep basements and crawl spaces dry.
• Ensure crawl spaces and spaces beneath dwelling units have adequate drainage to limit standing water. Ventilate to allow the area to dry out.
• Use fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. Fans should be placed in a window or door to blow air out rather than in, so as not to spread mold.
• Thoroughly wash and sanitize all dishes, utensils, and food preparation equipment.
• Steam clean any carpet that can be salvaged.
• Careless cleaning can do more harm than good by spreading mold and bacteria that can grow on damp materials to other areas of the building and to heating and ventilation systems.
• Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if your home suffered water damage.

You may be interested in: New storms put the entire Bay Area on alert, call for extreme precautions

Sunday's dry spell helped the Bay Area briefly recover from a powerful storm over New Year's weekend, but a Pineapple Express — a term meteorologists use to describe a flow of moisture from areas just north of Hawaii directly into the Pacific Northwest that is typically accompanied by heavy rain — is on its way to the area and will generate a midweek storm in the Bay Area, forecasters said Monday.

Clean-up efforts to rescue flooded basements and clear mudslides from roads will therefore be halted by the storm, which is expected to hit late Tuesday and into the early hours of Wednesday.

Soils already saturated by last weekend's downpours will only intensify the impacts of the new storm, which this time will be accompanied by strong winds, the National Weather Service for San Francisco and the Bay Area said.

The latest system could bring a repeat of recent flooding and the National Weather Service is urging residents to prepare for rising creeks, falling trees, mudslides and power outages.

Most areas will see light rain starting Monday afternoon and evening, setting the stage for the big storm, according to the National Weather Service.

The showers will be more intense from Wednesday afternoon until early Thursday morning and will be accompanied by strong winds. Scattered showers are expected to continue from Thursday until early Friday morning.

The weather service said totals as of Tuesday night are expected to reach between 4.5 and 6.5 inches in the Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast.

The coastal mountains in the North Bay are forecast to see 4.5 to 6.5 inches, and the Santa Cruz Mountains and northern Monterey Bay will see 3.5 to 6 inches.

The inland North Bay is expected to get 2.75 to 5 inches. San Francisco, along with the East Bay and South Bay areas, are forecast to get 1.5 to 3 inches.

Southern and eastern Monterey Bay is expected to see 2 to 3 inches and the Salinas Valley/San Benito County area 1.5 to 3 inches.

During the latest storm, San Francisco had its second-wettest day on record, when the city received 5.46 inches of rain on Dec. 31, just shy of the all-time record of 5.54 inches of rain set on Nov. 5, 1994, according to Jan Null, a certified meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services.

That brought San Francisco's December total to 11.60 inches, the wettest December 15 on record for the city, which has held a rainfall record since 1849.

With information from Bay City News.

You may be interested in: San Mateo County issues recommendations for those returning to flooded areas

Los ingresos del condado de San Mateo, en todo el gobierno, aumentaron en 22 millones de dólares durante el año fiscal 2021-22, de acuerdo con el Informe Financiero Integral Anual, al tiempo que los gastos disminuyeron en 192 millones de dólares, principalmente debido a una reducción en los egresos relacionados con la COVID-19 por 156 millones de dólares. 

El Informe Financiero Integral Anual ‒ACFR, por sus siglas en inglés‒ incluye los estados financieros auditados de las operaciones del condado durante el último año fiscal, y precisa que los ingresos del condado aumentaron un 1 por ciento, llegando a dos mil 49 mil millones de dólares, mientras que los gastos cayeron un 9 por ciento a mil 99 mil millones. 

Y es que, los costos relacionados con COVID-19 del año pasado ‒año fiscal 2020-21‒ fueron más altos que los de este año porque incluyeron, entre otros gastos, costos de adquisición de hoteles/edificios de viviendas, mano de obra y el programa Great Plates que proporcionó comidas colectivas a los residentes necesitados.

«Es importante para nosotros brindar información transparente y útil sobre las actividades financieras del Condado a los contribuyentes y residentes. Estos dos informes anuales nos ayudan a hacer eso», señaló el contralor Juan Raigoza.

El ACFR detallado de más de 200 páginas, que ya está disponible al público en general, incluye, además de los estados financieros auditados, una carta que resume las políticas financieras clave del condado, las perspectivas económicas y financieras y la planificación financiera a largo plazo, entre otros análisis, notas e información estadística requeridos.

El informe Financial Highlights de 16 páginas, incluye estados financieros resumidos, gráficos de tendencias de varios años, gráficos circulares, glosarios de términos financieros y proporciona breves explicaciones sobre las actividades financieras del condado.

Raigoza dijo que los residentes pueden estar seguros de que los informes financieros anuales del Condado están completos y cumplen con los requisitos de informes financieros, ya que constantemente obtienen un Certificado de Logro por Excelencia en Informes Financieros de la Asociación de Oficiales de Finanzas Gubernamentales de los Estados Unidos y Canadá ‒GFOA‒.

El ACFR del condado, los puntos destacados financieros (PAFR), los puntos destacados del impuesto a la propiedad y otros informes están disponibles en https://controller.smcgov.org/.

You may be interested in: They warn that agricultural workers are more exposed to contracting COVID-19