WITH HEAVY RAINS AND WINDS EXPECTED, STAY ALERT AND REPORT PROBLEMS
Call 911 for downed power lines; call 311 to report clogged drains or fallen trees

Berkeley, California (Tuesday, January 26, 2021) - With an "atmospheric river" expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds, help us keep Berkeley safe by reporting downed power lines, clogged drains, fallen trees, and other issues.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the East Bay from 7pm Tuesday, January 26 to 7am Wednesday, January 27, and a flash flood watch for the East Bay hills through Thursday, January 28. Heavy rains are forecast throughout the Bay Area.

The heaviest rainfall is expected Tuesday night. Residents should stay alert, use extra caution on roads, and report issues:

• Report downed power lines to 911. If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call 9-1-1 immediately, then notify PG&E by calling 1-800-743-5002. Do not touch or drive over a downed power line.
• Call 311 to report other issues. If you see clogged drains, fallen trees blocking roads, or other storm damage to City infrastructure, call 3-1-1 or (510) 981-2489 to let us know. Our crews are prepared to respond rapidly.

Stay safe during power outages

Storm damage to power lines may cause outages. Stay informed by signing up to get outage alerts from PG&E for your address by text, email, or phone. PG&E also has an online outage map, which is updated every 15 minutes.

If you experience a power outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

Prepare your household for winter storms

This week's weather event is not the end of rainy season. Other significant storms may lie ahead. Protect your home from possible flooding by taking steps to prepare in advance:

• Clean on and around your property as needed: gutters, rain downspouts, driveways, culverts, trash and debris around fences and gardens, and clear basement drains.
• Have sandbags on hand in case of flooding. Berkeley residents can request 10 free sandbags by visiting the City's Corporation Yard (1326 Allston Way) 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday or calling (510) 981-6620.
• Check submersible pumps and sump pumps to make sure they are operating properly.
• Keep flashlights and spare batteries on hand in case of a power failure.

City staff poised to respond

Public Works crews will be working through the heavy storms, day and night. Staff are on call to deal with downed trees or flooding affecting local homes, businesses, or streets.

The City works year-round to mitigate the impacts of the rainy season, such as Public Works' ongoing maintenance of approximately 7,000 storm drains, including inspections, cleanout, and repair. Green infrastructure projects, including rain gardens and permeable pavement projects, temper storm water to reduce flooding while also reducing pollutants or beautifying neighborhoods.

Residents can support these efforts and help protect their own neighborhood by volunteering with our adopt-a-spot storm drain program.

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