Prepare for Storm Season

What is the Public Works Department doing to prepare for storm season?
 
Throughout the year, Public Works:
  • Follows a preventative maintenance schedule for 4,391 storm drain inlets and catch basins, and 10 storm drain pump stations to help the stormwater system operate effectively during the storm season
 
Two months before the storm season begins, Public Works:
  • Clears storm drain outfalls around Alameda, e.g., Park Street and Shoreline
  • Clears storm drains where flooding has occurred in the past
  • Rechecks storm drain pump station equipment (including backup generators) and clears their trash racks
  • Rechecks traffic signals’ back-up batteries
  • Notifies residents of the process to get sandbags and suggests preparations to take
 
Two days before a severe storm, Public Works:
  • Issues a press release asking residents to call (510) 747-7900 (unless it’s after 6:00 p.m., then (510) 337-8340) for tree and branch failures, traffic signals down, and flooding
  • Street sweepers alter their typical schedule to pick up as much leaves and debris as possible in high-priority locations to help prevent flooding
  • Notifies Alameda Police of locations to suspend enforcement of street sweeping-related parking restrictions
  • Offers up to five free sandbags to residents who can show proof of residency (residents fill sand bags themselves). Supplies are limited.
 
During the storm season, Public Works:
  • Rechecks backup generators, loader, chainsaws, chippers, and other equipment to ensure it is fueled and ready
  • Coordinates with the City’s tree maintenance contractor to confirm crews are available during and after hours for fallen trees and limbs
  • Lowers lagoons to accept more stormwater
  • Keeps on-hand enough sandbags, flooding signs, barricades, and temporary stop-signs to deploy during storms
  • Street sweepers vacuum up water at known flooding locations
 
What can Alamedans do to prepare?
 
 Call Public Works ASAP at (510) 747-7900 if:
  • There is a pile of leaves and/or other debris in the parking lane
  • A culvert, inlet, or storm drain appears clogged up with leaves and/or debris
  • A street tree appears weakened, diseased, or dying
  • You see malfunctioning traffic signals, downed trees or branches, and/or flooding into a traffic lane
 
Other things you can to:
  • Hire an arborist to inspect trees on private property that appear weakened, diseased, dying, or vulnerable to damage in a storm
  • Make roof repairs and/or fix leaks before rain begins
  • Clear gutters of leaves and other debris
  • Avoid putting leaves and yardwaste in the street, as this clogs the storm drains
  • Consider purchasing flood insurance, if you are a property owner, and/or contents insurance, if you are a renter. These policies often need a 30-day waiting period between purchase and first claimed event.
  • Have an emergency plan in place for your family, and a dry place for storm supplies. See more at http://www.bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/Pages/Home.aspx.
  • Find out if your homeowners association (HOA) handles maintaining your neighborhood’s culverts, inlets, drains, and/or outfalls; if so, make sure the HOA is preparing the system for the storm season.
  • Park your vehicles and place your waste containers one foot away from the curb so that stormwater can flow unobstructed.
During the storm, please be patient as Public Works is triaging many requests for service from the public, Alameda Police, and others.
 
Sandbags:
 

To help Alamedans prepare for storm season, Public Works will provide up to five (5) free sandbags to Alameda residents. Sandbags can be retrieved anytime starting November 1st from a self-serve sandbag station in the courtyard behind City Hall West at 950 W Mall Square. If assistance loading sandbags is needed, staff will be available Mondays and Fridays, 12-1 PM, during the month of November and on Saturday, November 20th, 8 AM to noon at the Lexington Street at W. Tower Avenue sandbag station. Please note that if it is storming, staff may not be available for assistance as they are out tending to storm-related service requests from the public, Alameda Police, and others. By working together, Alameda residents and Public Works can help lessen the impacts of storms this season.

 

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