What you can do about flood risk
In short: sign up for your county's emergency alerts, and if your home is in an orange or red area, look at flood insurance now. It usually takes 30 days to start, so it can't be bought when a storm is forecast.
Before the rainy season
- Get alerts: every California county runs an emergency alert system. Find and sign up for yours.
- Check your insurance: standard home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding. Flood insurance is available to homeowners and renters (renters can cover their belongings), and a policy usually takes 30 days to start. See FloodSmart.gov and its guide to what it costs.
- Make a plan: know how you'd leave and where you'd go, and keep important papers and medicines where you can grab them. Ready.gov's flood guide has a checklist.
- Help your street drain: clear leaves from storm drains near your home. Many cities offer free sandbags before storms; check your city's website.
When a storm is coming
- Watch for warnings from the National Weather Service and your county's alerts, and follow evacuation orders.
- Never drive or walk into floodwater. Fast-moving water only 6 inches deep can knock an adult over, and about 12 inches can carry away most cars. Turn around, don't drown.
- Near a recent wildfire? Hillsides that burned in the last few years can send down mud and debris in an ordinary storm. Take evacuation warnings there especially seriously.