Winter Storm Preparedness

Berkeley residents and businesses can prepare  themselves and their property from the possibility of wind and water damage before winter storms arrive. To protect your home or business from flooding: 

Learn if sandbags are right for your property

If your property has a history of flooding, sandbags may be able to help divert the water. Watch a video from the California Department of Water Resources on how to fill and place sandbags.

Sandbags are available at local hardware stores, and for free during storm season from the City's Corporation Yard Monday-Friday, 8 am - 4 pm (Berkeley residents and businesses only; bring ID or a business card). Note: you are responsible for sandbag disposal.

Adopt a drain to keep your street safe

Work with your community to help keep storm drains along your street clear of debris and check out the City’s Adopt a Drain program.

Turn around, don’t drown

Storms can cause flooding in intersections and roadways. It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters. Learn more at the National Weather Service Turn Around, Don’t Drown webpage.

Access homeless services

Unhoused community members can contact Dorothy Day House at (510) 606-2026 or (510) 705-1325 for information about Berkeley’s inclement weather shelter.  

Get storm information

Emergency alerts

Sign up for AC Alert to receive emergency information and instructions.

During an emergency, review Berkeley’s Emergency Map to find emergency information, like evacuation orders or open shelters. 

Sign up for Nixle to get alerts about road closures and other storm impacts from the Berkeley Police Department.

Weather updates

Get weather advisories from the National Weather Service Bay Area Office’s website, Facebook page, or X (Twitter) feed.

Measure Berkeley rainfall levels using the Balance Hydrologics rain gauge.

Monitor real-time streamflow levels for Strawberry and Codornices Creeks using the Balance Hydrologics Public Gage Map.

Power updates

Sign up to get outage alerts from PG&E for your address. Bookmark PG&E’s online outage map, which is updated every 15 minutes.

Report Storm 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. Stay away from downed power lines and assume they are energized and dangerous.

Report power outages to PG&E. Call (800) 743-5002 and check PG&E’s online outage map for updates. Do not call 9-1-1 unless you are having a life-threatening emergency.

Street flooding, clogged storm drains, sewer overflow, and traffic signal outage: Report to Public Works: (510) 981-6620

Fallen Trees and Branches

• If tree is in contact with a power line, call 911.

• If the tree or branch is blocking roadway traffic or sidewalks, affecting a building, or otherwise dangerous, call the Forestry Division: (510) 981-2489

During severe storms, Forestry crews focus on safety. Crews may leave cut trees and branches alongside the roadways. Crews will return to remove debris once storm activity is complete. This may take up to a week.

For other issues or information, contact 3-1-1 (from a Berkeley landline) or (510) 981-2489 or visit Berkeley 3-1-1 online.