Disaster Preparedness

Prepare for – and know how to respond to – winter storms

Reduce your neighborhood’s storm risk this winter: clean gutters, drains, report hazards to 3-1-1, sign up for emergency alerts, and keep key supplies ready.

Published:

February 25, 2026

Last Updated:

July 1, 2026

Winter rains and winds can lead to flooding, downed power lines, and fallen trees. Know how to reduce flooding risks near your home and who to call to report those hazards.

Minimize flooding and water damage around your home by clearing gutters, downspouts, driveways, and drains. If your property has ever flooded, use sandbags to help divert water. Residents and merchants can pick up some from the City.

You can also “adopt” a storm drain near your home to reduce flooding in your neighborhood.

Reporting hazards quickly can help the City and other agencies respond.

Report fallen trees by calling 3-1-1 (510-981-2489 outside City limits)
Report downed power lines to 9-1-1 and then notify PG&E
For street hazards like clogged storm drains, street flooding, non-working street lights and traffic signals, call (510) 981-6620

Storm season is also a reminder to make sure you’ve signed up for AC Alert emergency notifications and have an updated emergency kit.

Prep your home to avoid flooding, wind damage

Allow rain to flow away from your property by cleaning gutters, downspouts, driveways and drains. Sandbags can help divert the path of water. Get them at most hardware or home improvement stores. A limited number of sandbags are also available to Berkeley residents and businesses on a first-come, first-served basis:  

City of Berkeley Corporation Yard
1326 Allston Way 
Monday-Friday, 8 am-3 pm 
Bring ID or a business card.  

You can also reduce flooding in your neighborhood. Before storms, help reduce flooding by clearing nearby drains. You can use simple tools like a rake and garbage bags.

If you’d like to help maintain drains year-round, join Berkeley’s Adopt-A-Storm-Drain program.

To prevent wind damage, secure outdoor items like furniture, decorations, and garbage bins.

Report storm hazards, use caution during power outages

Quickly reporting storm-related issues helps the City and PG&E respond more rapidly.

For City-specific issues, you can report them on any device using our Report and Pay tool. These phone numbers can also be helpful:

For general issues, call 3-1-1 or (510) 981-2489 when outside City limits.
For urgent street safety issues, call (510) 981-6620. This can include clogged storm drains, and street hazards like flooding, non-working street lights and traffic signals, and other storm issues.
For fallen trees or branches on streets, sidewalks, or City parks, call (510) 981-6660.

Storm damage may cause power outages so take these precautions:

If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call 9-1-1 immediately, then notify PG&E at (800) 743-5002.
Do not touch or drive over downed power lines.
During an outage, turn off or unplug appliances to reduce fire risk when power returns. Leave one lamp on to signal restoration and turn your appliances back on one at a time.
If you are driving and encounter a signal that is out, treat it as a four-way stop. Never drive around the barriers blocking a flooded road.

Prepare in case storm turns into emergency

If a winter storm develops into an emergency, the City will send out information and instructions via AC Alert.

Make sure each person in your household has their own AC Alert account. Include phone numbers, email addresses, and locations of interest so you receive alerts for all the places you care about.

Build or update your household disaster supply kit in case storms cause power outages. Include these key items:

first aid kit
water
non-perishable food
flashlight
prescription medicines
back up power, such as a portable battery

Stay dry and safe during winter rains. Know how to reduce flooding risks near your home and who to call to report fallen trees, downed power lines, and flooding.