El Niño Preparedness Workshop on November 21

Save the date: Saturday, Nov. 21 from 12 – 4 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St.

The City of Santa Cruz is hosting a free El Niño Storm Preparedness Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 12 – 4 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St. City departments and key community agencies will host booths where residents can learn how to best prepare their families and properties for heavy rains. The event will include a family-friendly sandbag workshop where citizens will be instructed on how to make their own sandbags.

Event booths will include the National Weather Service with the latest storm forecasts, Santa Cruz County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program and Animal Service Authority with pet preparedness tips. The Boy Scouts will offer emergency kits for purchase. The County and City offices of emergency services will explain how they manage and coordinate storm related response, recovery, mitigation and preparedness efforts.

City booths will include Public Works with home prep before the storm; sandbag techniques and staff to discuss areas prone to flooding and what the City is doing to protect people and property.

The Water Department will instruct residents on how to monitor rainfall, runoff and reservoir conditions from their homes and explain how the water system operates to ensure reliable service and high quality drinking water during storms. The Police and Fire departments will dialogue with visitors regarding field evacuations for residents in flood prone areas and rescue operations.