With upcoming winter storms on the horizon, Redwood City is preparing for wet weather while working to reduce the likelihood of flooding.
In that regard, the city said in a statement that crews are clearing trash and debris from catchment basins and drainage structures, which helps ensure that only stormwater enters the system.
He also noted that employees have also completed preventative maintenance on the pumps and are providing training on sandbags.
It is worth noting that the Redwood Shores lagoon level has been lowered to winter levels to develop stormwater retention capacity.
“We know that global warming is leading to more severe and frequent storms,” said City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz. “We are doing everything we can to prepare for winter and we encourage all residents to prepare now as well.”
In light of the impact of the 2023 winter storms, the City strengthened storm preparedness efforts, paying increased attention to neighborhoods that experienced a higher risk of flooding.
This included holding several community meetings for neighborhoods near Cordilleras Creek and East Bayshore.
Redwood City also developed a Creekside Homeowners Guide, which includes creekside maintenance tips and specific winter storm preparation steps for homeowners, and created storm preparation videos and information in English and Spanish.
Among the guidelines that the city recommends to residents is the SMC Alert, which asks people to register to receive emergency messages to their email, cell phones and other devices, and landlines.
For evacuation information, 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.
Residents can download the app Genasys Protect and identify your zone number and familiarize yourself with how to access the mapping program within the app so you can track evacuation zones as evacuations are ordered.
In the place www.RedwoodCity.org/StormPrep Residents can learn more about what to do before, during, and after a storm.
He also reminded that during a storm, a wall can be built with sandbags to channel the water into a drain or gutter. Sandbags are available for Redwood City residents at 1400 Broadway.
For individuals or families seeking shelter during inclement weather, Fair Oaks Community Center has extended assistance. Those in need can call (650) 780-7500 or stop by in person at 2600 Middlefield Road, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If it is after hours, they can call the non-emergency police dispatch line at (650) 780-7100.
Remember that you can always call 9-1-1 in case of emergency, which means any serious medical problem (chest pain, seizure, bleeding), fire (business, car, building), or any life-threatening situation or to report crimes in progress.
In the event of a power outage or gas leak, call Pacific Gas & Electric at 1-800-743-5002 or visit www.PGE.com. For downed power lines, call 9-1-1 first, then PG&E.
Finally, for road conditions, you can access CalTrans maps available at https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or call 1-800-427-7623.
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