Preparing for Winter Rains 

By Zach Friend

As we head into the rainy season it’s always good to do some advance preparations for your home or business. Wet winters, while always welcome news for our recent drought, do bring with it the possibility of flooding, mudslides and downed trees. What can you do to prepare and what is the County doing ahead of the winter to get ready?

One of the first things that you can do is visit the County’s winter prep resource page: www.santacruzcounty.us/elnino — while it was originally created for last year’s El Nino it has been updated and provides a wealth of information on what to do before, during and after a storm. It provides checklists on what to have on hand at your home, contact numbers and more. This information is also available via the County’s mobile app (called Citizen Connect), which also allows for the reporting of non-emergency road hazards and more.

In advance of the storms Public Works is requesting that you call them at 454-2160 if you know of any culverts that need inspection or repair or brush that needs to be cleared. Public Works has already begun the process of clearing some of these locations and your input will help guide the process. Additionally, Public Works is also asking that residents rake (if it’s safe) and clean storm drains to help prevent flooding. This simple task can significantly improve drainage. Road hazards can always be reported via the 24-hour Public Works dispatch number at 477-3999 (option 1) or via 911.

If you believe that a tree has the potential to impact a power line PG&E is offering to have their arborists inspect trees and perform maintenance if needed. You can call them at 1-800-743-5000. Residents can also sign up for mobile alerts regarding power outages directly from their website.

Our local 911 center suggests residents sign up for mobile alerts (called Code Red) from their website www.scr911.org. These alerts will be used for evacuations, boil-water notices and other critical information.

Local public works, fire and emergency services personnel are encouraging residents to winterize their homes and create supply kits. If strong rains and winds occur, it’s possible that areas will be without power for multiple days or for that roads can become impassible. Therefore, one of the best things we can do to help out local emergency responders it to be as self-sufficient as possible so they can dedicate their resources to the most pressing needs.

What can you do to prepare? According to FEMA, here are some tips:

• Clear drains, rain gutters and downspouts of debris;
• Get flood insurance. If you already have it, check your policy to make sure you have enough coverage;
• Make copies of all your important documents and make sure the originals are stored safely somewhere outside of your home;
• Take photos of your possessions (furniture, collectibles, electronics) in case you need them for an insurance claim.
• Build an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlight, batteries, radio, and baby items and medicines (if needed) to last a few days.
• Keep your pets indoors if possible during heavy rain events

•••

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to call me at 454-2200 if I can be of any help to you.