After a series of severe storms and a lull in high winds and rain, now is the time to prepare for power outages, road closures and other problems that could come with the next wave of storms, San Mateo County said.

“With a slight change in the weather, now is the time to prepare for the next wave of storms,” said Adam Ely, who is leading the county’s response to the series of storms that began over New Year’s weekend.

“Prepare an emergency kit in case you lose power. Make sure to pack some water and food in case you get stuck in your car,” Ely suggested. “And make sure you have a working flashlight.”

More intense weather is on the way.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning from Thursday night through early Friday morning, which would bring “very large waves of 20 to 30 feet and beach erosion.”

For this weekend, the Weather Service warns: “The steady flow of moisture funneling out of the tropical Pacific will continue through Saturday and gradually expand into more central parts of the state.”

With that in mind, the county has listed a number of helpful websites and phone numbers you may need in the coming days.

Preparation

Evacuations are always possible. If you are ordered to evacuate, leave quickly. Here's what to pack in an emergency kit. ‒Water, food and a flashlight are essential‒.

download one printable version to take with you to the store. Once you take a look at the basic items, consider what unique needs your family might have, such as pet or senior supplies.

Road closures and travel advisories

Caltrans offers a search tool of state roads and highways. You may also call 1-800-427-7623 for current road conditions.

The county provides a map and a search tool with local dangerous conditions, including road closures and advisories.

Ask the County Parks website for updates on when they are closed or reopening.

Support and resources

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.

Residents needing non-emergency storm-related assistance should call 2-1-1. This line can connect residents in need of shelter with county resources.

The county also provides links to resources in the county's 20 cities.

Sandbag Pickup Locations

The county provides a map of the pickup locations for residents of unincorporated areas, which includes most of the coast.

see this list of sandbag pick up locations for cities, with contact information to confirm availability.

emergency alerts

The county encourages all residents to enroll in SMC Alert, which sends emergency messages to emails, cell phones and other devices, and landlines.

Alert types include fire, weather, major utility outages, and disaster notifications.

Pacific Gas & Electric has a blackout map and It allows sign up for alerts by email, text message or phone.

Fallen trees

If branches become entangled in power lines, stay at least 25 feet away and call 9-1-1 immediately. Then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

If you live in a city, please contact your public works department with questions or service requests.

The County Road Maintenance Division is responsible for emergency repairs and tree removal on the county's 315 miles of roads. Please contact the Public Works Department with questions or service requests.

Health and Safety Guidelines for Residents with Flooded Homes

The San Mateo County Health Department urges residents to to take precautions to protect themselves and their families. Flood water may contain untreated sewage, animal waste, toxic substances, chemical compounds, fungi, bacteria and other harmful materials.

school updates

The San Mateo County Office of Education provides updates on the school closures. You can also find and contact your district local school.

You may be interested in: Redwood City proclaims local emergency due to heavy rain

Ha dado arranque un nuevo año. Este inicio de 2023 es, para muchos, esperanzador en diferentes aspectos. Hay nuevos bríos, nuevas ganas de comenzar con una alimentación sana, con más ejercicio, con nuevo empleo o con nuevos lugares por conocer, y desde este espacio deseamos que todo el año sea maravilloso y lleno de nuevas oportunidades. 

Sin embargo el fin de semana del inicio de este año inició con fuertes tormentas para el Área de la Bahía, provocando inundaciones, deslaves, apagones, caída de árboles y desplazados. Ante ello es importante reflexionar sobre el cambio climático y las graves afectaciones que está teniendo, cada vez más, en nuestro día a día. Sin duda, un inicio que ha sacudido con fuertes nevadas, sequías y tormentas a todo el país. 

Mientras las tareas para ayudar a los afectados se llevan a cabo, esto es lo que debes conocer para estar al día en noticias locales.

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More than $3 million in federal funding is now available for summer 2023 educational enrichment programs that address student learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and service providers can apply.

Program providers can apply until January 9, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. on the website www.SMCStrong.org. Los fondos se distribuirán en marzo. Las subvenciones oscilarán entre 15 mil y 100 mil dólares dependiendo de cuántos niños en edad escolar ‒desde jardín de infantes hasta el grado 12‒ estén actualmente atendidos.   

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Después de pasar horas sacando luces, adornos y demás para el árbol de Navidad, muchos se prepararán para quitarlos y volver a guardar por al menos 11 meses esos detalles que los hacen únicos en los hogares.

Pero, ¿Cómo y cuándo se debe tirar el árbol de Navidad en el condado de San Mateo? aquí te explicamos.

Una vez que haya quitado todo el oropel, las luces, las decoraciones y los soportes de su árbol navideño, puede dejar el árbol junto a su carrito de compostaje verde y Recology lo recogerá entre el 2 y el 31 de enero en su día habitual de recolección.

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Authorities reported the closure of several roads due to flooding in San Mateo registered on December 31, 2022 and January 1, 2023.

La policía de San Mateo instó a los conductores a evitar el área de 42nd Avenue entre El Camino Real y Pacific Boulevard, que es un paso subterráneo de Caltrain, así como el área de Delaware Street entre Bermuda Drive y Saratoga Drive.

De igual manera, señalaron que Bermuda Drive también se inundó debido al desbordamiento de Borel Creek.

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El doctor Scott Morrow, oficial de salud del condado de San Mateo, advirtió el domingo 1 de enero a los residentes que los desbordamientos de agua presentan riesgos para la salud y la seguridad de quienes regresan a las zonas inundadas en San Mateo. Ante ello, las autoridades han emitido algunas recomendaciones para aquellos que regresan a dichas zonas.

"Flood water can contain all sorts of hazardous materials and it's obviously best to avoid any contact with water," Dr. Morrow said. 

She also warned that “raw sewage, animal waste, toxic substances, chemicals, fungi, bacteria – things you would rather avoid – can be in the water and you should take precautions to prevent illness or injury.”

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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.

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El período seco del domingo ayudó a que el Área de la Bahía se recuperara brevemente de una poderosa tormenta el fin de semana de Año Nuevo, pero un Pineapple Express, término que los meteorólogos usan para describir un flujo de humedad desde áreas justo al norte de Hawái directamente hacia el noroeste del Pacífico que suele ir acompañado de fuertes lluvias, y que llegó al área, generó una tormenta a media semana en el Área de la Bahía.

Con ello, los esfuerzos de limpieza para rescatar los sótanos inundados y despejar los deslizamientos de lodo de las carreteras se detuvieron por el fenómeno atmosférico, que llegó a última hora del martes hasta la madrugada del miércoles y continuó el jueves.

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Un fuerte sistema de tormentas puso a todo el Área de la Bahía bajo alerta de inundaciones a partir de este miércoles debido a que se esperaba fuera tan malo o peor que el diluvio del sábado.

El pronóstico incluyó una matriz de amenazas actualizada que clasifica como «riesgo extremo».

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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. 

The expanded guidelines included: food safety, clothing and upholstered furniture, buildings and structures, and health and safety.

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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.

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To standing ovations from their respective families in the Board Chambers on the County Center campus in downtown Redwood City, Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller were sworn in on the morning of Jan. 3 by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Together, they represent the biggest change on the five-member board in a generation; the last time two new members were sworn in at the same time was in 1993. Both won runoff elections last November.

En la misma reunión, el supervisor Dave Pine fue elegido presidente de la Junta de Supervisores para este 2023.

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La administradora de Redwood City, Melissa Stevenson Diaz, emitió este jueves 5 de enero una proclamación de emergencia local debido a la severa tormenta invernal con fuertes lluvias y vientos que se han estado experimentando. 

Ante ello, se le ha pedido al Concejo Municipal que ratifique la acción en su reunión del próximo lunes 9 de enero, al tiempo que el personal proporcionará un informe más detallado de la respuesta de la ciudad a la tormenta.

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To standing ovations from their respective families in the Board Chambers on the County Center campus in downtown Redwood City, Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller were sworn in on the morning of Jan. 3 by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Together, they represent the biggest change on the five-member board in a generation; the last time two new members were sworn in at the same time was in 1993. Both won runoff elections last November.

Corzo was sworn in by her mother, Aura Ester Solorzano, and her 11-year-old son, Mike Alvarado-Corzo. She represents District 2, which includes the cities of San Mateo, Foster City and much of Belmont.

Noelia is a San Mateo resident who grew up in the city’s North Central neighborhood, and she campaigned on the message of bringing her professional experience as a social worker “who knows exactly where our neighbors fall” and her personal experience as a single mother “who understands the importance of access to high-quality child care, health care, and education.”

She is currently the only woman on the Board of Supervisors and the first Latina to serve on the Board in the county’s 158-year history. She previously served on the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees.

Mueller was sworn in by his wife, Kristen Shima, and their children Max Mueller, 17, and Elle Mueller, 13. He represents District 3, which includes the cities of Atherton, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Woodside and part of Belmont, along with large unincorporated areas.

Mueller, a Menlo Park resident, has campaigned on addressing challenges such as affordable housing, coastal infrastructure investment and environmental stewardship, among other issues.

He has pledged to do “impactful work on behalf of San Mateo County District 3; work that will make a difference in our quality of life, our safety, our economy, our environment and our future.” He previously served on the Menlo Park City Council.

Mueller succeeds Don Horsley as District 3 representative; Corzo succeeds Carole Groom as District 2 representative. Both Horsley and Groom are out of office.

At the same meeting, Supervisor Dave Pine was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors for the coming year.

Pine, who won a special election in 2011 and was subsequently re-elected three times, said his goal will be to “facilitate a highly effective and productive culture among the Board of Supervisors that will allow us to make the best decisions possible for the good of the county.”

You may be interested in: Mental health care, the legacy that Don Horsley seeks to leave before retiring

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.

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