LIVE UPDATES: Bay Area prepares for Level 2 storm; rain, winds and dangerous surf in forecast

Crews are gearing up not only for this round of rain, but also for what's expected to be a very wet El Niño winter.

A storm moves into the Bay Area Friday, and crews are gearing up not only for this round of rain, but also for what's expected to be a very wet El Niño winter.

Crews in Oakland were hard at work Thursday to prepare for the storm ahead.

From the hills of Oakland to the low-lying streets, the is sound of the city getting prepared for the impacts of El Niño could be heard.

Oakland Public Work crews out in full force Thursday morning making sure drains were clear ahead of Friday's forecasted rain.

"It's very important because we expect a lot of rain this year. We need all our structures to be cleaned thoroughly. If not, we can get backups, and it can cause property damage and erosion of the streets," said Maintenance Worker Roy Luster.

The crew pulled out everything from a grocery store basket to a sandbag that at one point was probably used to protect from flooding - now, it could be causing it.

"Oftentimes, people use inlets as garbage, and they're not. They're for the water to flow through, so we can have easy access to the Bay," Luster said.

And to ensure that it has a clear path to the Bay, the city is asking for the public's help.

"The City of Oakland offers an opportunity for community members and business and local businesses to adopt a drain. So, if they have a drain in their area where debris might fall, it is a great tool for people to clean it up before a storm actually hits," said Monica Pelayo, public information officer with the Department of Public Works.

And before the storms hit, the city's also working to clean up encampments to prevent debris from easily ending up in the drains.

"We're clearing debris across the city. What the city is doing to reflect its values is reaching out to encampment individuals to let them know about the storm season and alternatives to being on the streets during storm season," said Liam Garland, director of Oakland Public Works.

In the North Bay, residents are preparing for the approaching storm and trying to ease rising flood fears.

In the North Bay, residents are preparing for the approaching storm and getting a helping hand from Marin County Public Works crews trying to ease rising flood fears this week.

Marin County firefighters have been pitching in to beat the storm clock by putting a sandbag machine to good use, filling as many bags as they can.

"We have filled a little over 30,000 sandbags since we began in October," said Marin County Public Works Assistant Director Michael Frost.

There's no time to waste. The sandbags will be sent to neighborhoods most at risk from storm surge and king tide events.

"We shipped out a truckload this morning. We'll do the same Friday," Frost said.

"This is what we're doing. You can see the creek is right there. Tides are not all the way up where it could be. We're prepared for the worst," said Spencer Jackson.

Jackson is a general contractor who is now helping Larkspur homeowners protect their waterfront homes with sandbag barriers 3 feet high around properties.

"It's been extremely urgent for the community. We have 20 guys working 12-hour days filling up sandbags and building walls," Jackson said.

The sound of cranes hammering steel sheets into a stormwater berm was incredibly loud, but it was music to Santa Venetia homeowners who don't want to flood again.
Dennis Fiori's property flooded last January. He's concerned about approaching storms.

"Even if we get an inch, so it will probably be OK. But if something does happen, they'll be here with sandbags immediately," Fiore said.

Reinforcing the aging berm built in the 1980s has become a top priority for Marin County.

"We're concerned, not only about overtopping with the berm, but also seepage underneath which is indication that it could fail," said Marin Co. Supervisor Mary Sackett.

Santa Cruz will close all beaches and the Santa Cruz Wharf from 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday morning.

Tomorrow's storm is expected to bring the biggest waves in years to the California coast.

In preparation, Santa Cruz will close all beaches and the Santa Cruz Wharf from 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday 5 a.m.

The city said in a social media post: "Please stay away from beaches, coastal access points, rocks, and other areas exposed to high surf. Large waves can arrive unexpectedly, creating life-threatening conditions even for those standing away from the water. While the Wharf remains structurally safe, these closures are being implemented as a proactive safety precaution."

Forecasters say breaking waves up to 30 to 40 feet are possible.