BAY AREA • HOUSEHOLD FIELD GUIDE

Storm ready,
San Mateo.

Bay tides, creeks & property drainage. 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

Bay tides, creeks & property drainage

Bay tides, creeks and local drainage can affect different properties. Review your entrances, nearby creeks or lagoons, and slope drainage rather than relying only on past flood experience.

Read the map correctly

The city page contains historical maps and a revision effective October 11, 2024. Use FEMA’s address lookup for the current effective record.

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.

Test your sump pump if your property has one, and plan for a power interruption.
Check private drains and safe discharge paths before heavy rain.
Check both tide-related alerts and rainfall forecasts for Bay-adjacent trips.
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.

San Mateo official preparation guidance

03 / PROTECT LOW ENTRANCES

Sandbags: check before you go

Published season: October 1–April 30, 24/7, while materials last. Up to 10 bags per vehicle for city residents/property owners with proof. Self-fill: bring a shovel and heavy-duty trash bags. Check current Pacific Boulevard, Beresford Park and Anchor Road sites.

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

Use the city storm-preparedness page for reporting channels; call 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

Is a historical flood-reporting map a current emergency map?

No. Historical reports help explain past problems. Current alerts and official service channels guide decisions during a storm.