BAY AREA • HOUSEHOLD FIELD GUIDE

Storm ready,
Oakland.

Urban drainage & hillslope awareness. Local steps and official sources for the place you call home.

Sources reviewed October 24, 2026 · Preparation guide

Making a decision today?

Check current forecasts, warnings and local instructions. This guide does not display live alerts or verify road access, shelters or supply stock.

NWS Bay Area forecasts & alerts

01 / KNOW YOUR EXPOSURE

Urban drainage & hillslope awareness

Blocked drains can flood streets while saturated hillsides can create slope hazards. Oakland has separate stormwater and wastewater systems. A long-term drainage study identifies infrastructure issues, not a parcel-by-parcel safety rating.

Read the map correctly

Use the local hazard plan for context and FEMA for effective insurance maps. Future sea-level scenarios are not this winter’s forecast.

Official local map guidance FEMA effective flood-map address lookup

Maps cannot rule out flooding outside a mapped zone. No individual parcel has been assessed for this guide.

02 / BEFORE THE RAIN

Your household checklist

Check items for this visit, then use your browser’s print command for a paper copy.

Keep yard waste out of gutters and report infrastructure blockages.
If your property is on a slope, review the city’s landslide guidance and seek advice about new movement.
Plan an alternate trip if hillside or low-lying roads close.
Prepare drinking water, food, medications, lights, charged devices and important documents.
Agree on a meeting place and help for children, older adults, pets and access needs.
Safely clear private gutters and drains before storms. Stay out of channels; report public blockages.

Oakland official preparation guidance

03 / PROTECT LOW ENTRANCES

Sandbags: check before you go

When heavy rain is forecast, the city describes up to 10 bags and 20 feet of sheeting for eligible residents/businesses while supplies last. Bring proof and prepare to self-fill. Edgewater Drive and Shepherd Canyon Road have different hours; check the program.

Confirm current activation, eligibility, stock and hours before travel. Sandbags can help redirect shallow runoff; they do not make a building floodproof or replace evacuation.

Official sandbag program & locations

04 / STAY CONNECTED

Alerts & local reporting

OAK311 or 510-615-5566 for infrastructure issues; 911 for immediate danger.

Official city storm contactsCall 911 for immediate danger to life.

When a storm arrives

Follow official evacuation instructions. Stay out of floodwater, never drive around barricades, and avoid downed wires. Do not enter unsafe drainage channels or attempt storm-time roof or gutter work. Check actual closures before traveling.

A local question

Should urgent drainage problems go into the long-term hotspot survey?

No. Report active infrastructure problems to OAK311. Use the drainage plan and surveys for long-term context.