The Bay Area will be affected this Wednesday by what the National Weather Service predicts will be "heavy or excessive rains," the first in a series of winter storms that will test the capacity of public agencies throughout 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 call 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 torrential water can wash away most vehicles, including SUVs and trucks.
Also, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Among the preparation tips, it is recalled that San Mateo County is offering sandbags to residents and businesses in the unincorporated areas.
Here is a map and a list of pickup locations in unincorporated areas, plus 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 points, the first point of contact for evacuees during an emergency. These places begin the process of finding a suitable short- or long-term shelter. Evacuation assistance is available to those who need it.
Remember to call 9-1-1 for emergencies only. 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 local hazardous conditions by address and other county storm 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 Bay Area National Weather Service: https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea.
Some websites that might be of interest in these circumstances for information on school closures from the San Mateo County Office of Education: 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 Bay Area National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/mtr/.
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