Wet Weather Continues Monday and Tuesday

Wet weather continues Monday and Tuesday

Published January 6, 2023 | Updated January 9, 2023

UPDATE (10:15am January 9, 2023)

  • Highway 13 Southbound has re-opened. See 511.org Critical Alerts for other regional road closures and public transit impacts.

UPDATE (7:15am January 9, 2023)

  • Highway 13 is closed Southbound at Moraga due to a fallen tree blocking the road. Alternate routes advised.

  • Find more information on regional road closures and public transit impacts at 511.org Critical Alerts.

With heavy rains expected to continue Monday and Tuesday , take steps to prepare your household and help us keep Piedmont safe by reporting downed power lines, clogged drains, fallen trees, and other issues.

Current forecasts show moderate rain for Saturday and continuing into Sunday, followed by intense storms similar to those experienced on December 31st and Wednesday, January 4th on Monday and Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory from 10am on Saturday, January 7th through 1pm on Sunday, January 8th and a flood watch for the East Bay from Saturday, January 7th through the afternoon of Tuesday, January 10th.

We will post ongoing updates regarding road closures or other storm impacts at piedmont.ca.gov/storm.

Prepare your household

We encourage community members to take steps before the heavy storms arrive on Monday to prepare for possible flooding:

  • Have insurance policies handy and take photos of each room in your home.

  • Clean on and around your property as needed: gutters, rain downspouts, driveways, culverts, trash and debris around fences and gardens. Clear basement drains.

  • Have sandbags on hand in case of flooding. Residents can get free sandbags at the City’s Corporation Yard (898 Red Rock Road) 7am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday.

  • Check submersible pumps and sump pumps to make sure they are operating properly.

  • Keep flashlights and spare batteries on hand in case of power failure.

  • Stock up on food, water, necessary medications, pet needs, and other essential supplies in case of road closures or power outages that last for several days.

Call to report downed power lines, fallen trees, and clogged drains

During the periods of heaviest rainfall, currently forecast for Monday and Tuesday, please  stay alert, avoid roads if possible, use extra caution when driving, and report issues:

  • Call (510) 420-3000 to report downed power lines. If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call (510) 420-3000 to report them to the City, then notify PG&E by calling 1-800-743-5000. Do not touch or drive over a downed power line. If you see a downed power line sparking or smoking, call 9-1-1 to report it.

  • Call (510) 420-3050 during business hours or (510) 420-3000 after hours to report other issues. If you see clogged drains, fallen trees blocking roads, or other storm damage to City infrastructure, call the Public Works Department at (510) 420-3050 during regular business hours (8:30am-5pm) or Police Dispatch at (510) 420-3000 after hours to let us know. Our crews are prepared to respond rapidly.

City staff working around the clock to respond

Since this series of storms began City staff have been working day and night to prepare, respond, and mitigate impacts from the storms. Piedmont has received nearly 10 inches of rain in the past week, which is over 40% of the city’s average annual rainfall.

The City of Piedmont proclaimed a state of local emergency on Wednesday, January 4th at 8:30pm. The City has incurred significant costs in responding to the storm, including overtime for Public Works, Police, and Fire Departments. The City has also retained outside contractors to assist with remediating damage to public property from landslides, downed trees on public property, and damage to city facilities. Adopting the state of local emergency  allows the City to be eligible for federal funds for disaster response reimbursement, should those funds become available.