With more rain forecast this week and a potentially historic El Niño expected this winter, now is the time to protect your home from flooding and prepare for power outages.

Some of the most important preparations take time. Don’t wait until heavy rains begin to learn your sump pump isn’t working or your home is vulnerable to flooding.

Protect your home from flooding: Check your sump pump now

If your home has a sump pump, checking it should be your first priority. Sump pumps wear out over time, and many homeowners don’t discover theirs has stopped working until the basement floods.

Test your pump now to make sure it’s working properly. Check that it has a backup power source in case of an outage. If you don’t know how to test your sump pump, call a plumber now to have it inspected.

Homes that have flooded before are especially vulnerable. If you’ve experienced flooding in the past, don’t assume it was a one-time event. Identify and address drainage problems now to reduce the risk of flooding again.

Other steps to take before heavy rain arrives:

• Clear gutters and drains. Remove leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts, basement drains, and drainage areas around your property.

• Get sandbags if you need them. If your property is vulnerable to runoff, have sandbags ready before storms arrive. Piedmont residents can get 10 free sandbags per household at the City’s Corporation Yard (898 Red Rock Road) Monday-Friday, 7am-3:30pm.

• Document your home and belongings. Take photos of each room and valuable belongings and save them somewhere you can access if you need to file an insurance claim.

Prepare for extended power outages

Intense storms can bring down trees and power lines, causing outages that last for hours or even days.

Make a plan now for how your household would manage an extended outage. Consider whether you would be able to stay in your home without power for several days. If not, identify somewhere you could stay. Think through where you could shower, charge devices, and meet other basic needs.

Other steps to take now:

• Check your flashlights and electric lanterns. Make sure they work and have fresh batteries or are fully charged.

• Stock essential supplies. Have food, water, medications, and other necessities available in case of a multi-day outage.

• Sign up for PG&E outage alerts to receive updates when power is interrupted at your address.

Find more guidance on the City’s power outage preparedness webpage.

How the City is preparing for El Niño

City staff are closely monitoring winter weather forecasts and taking additional precautions to prepare for the possibility of severe storms. Precautions for this winter include:

• Interim drainage improvements at known problem locations. Public Works staff have implemented temporary measures to improve drainage during heavy downpours in certain locations prone to flooding.

• Erosion prevention measures in City parks. Crews have installed “wattles” – long, compost-filled tubes – across steep hillsides to slow the flow of rainwater and help prevent soil from washing away.

• Strengthening emergency response coordination. Public Works, Police, and Fire staff are reviewing storm response protocols and conducting drills to ensure a coordinated response during severe weather.

These preparations build on significant recent investments to strengthen Piedmont’s aging storm drainage system and reduce flood risk. Last year, the City completed drainage upgrades at eight known problem locations across Piedmont, as well as its first green infrastructure bioswale, which captures and filters stormwater from a large area around Grand Avenue before gradually releasing it into the drainage system.

Staff from Piedmont’s Public Works, Police, Fire, and Communications teams discussed the City’s El Niño preparations at length at the October 19 City Council meeting. The presentation is available to watch online.