State flood supplies arrive in North Bay as officials prepare for potential El Niño impacts
MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- As California prepares for what forecasters say could be a powerful El Niño winter, state and local officials are stepping up flood preparedness efforts across the Bay Area.
Earlier this week, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency ahead of the anticipated weather pattern, allowing the state to mobilize flood-response resources before major storms arrive.
At state warehouses, including a large facility in Stockton, millions of sandbags and other flood-fighting supplies are being staged for rapid deployment.
"DWR has prepositioned 4.4 million sandbags and other flood-fighting material in eight warehouses across the state," said Thomas Gibson, director of the California Department of Water Resources.
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Some of those supplies are already arriving in Marin County. A large shipping container delivered by the state contains wood stakes, pallets of sandbags, and black plastic sheeting that can be used to protect homes, roads, and other infrastructure from flooding. Another container is scheduled for delivery soon.
Marin County Public Works officials say the additional materials will supplement an already extensive local inventory as communities prepare for winter storms and unusually high King tides.
"We have 73,000 sandbags in inventory ready to be deployed," said Michael Frost, assistant director of Marin County Public Works. "There's a lot more awareness and concern, especially with King Tides. We need more sandbags for residents."
Flood prevention projects are also underway throughout the North Bay. Crews are dredging Novato Creek and reinforcing levees that could be vulnerable during periods of heavy rain and high water.
Officials say they are also prepared to deploy water pumps to flood-prone areas, including Lucky Drive in Corte Madera, which experienced significant flooding during storms last January.
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County road maintenance supervisor Kenny Roberts said Marin County has sufficient pumping resources available if conditions worsen.
"Absolutely," Roberts said when asked whether the county has enough pumps. "Other departments have them as well, so it's like the backup to the backup. We're covered."
To help residents prepare, Marin County plans to open two sandbag distribution stations on Sept. 25, one in Greenbrae and another in the Santa Venetia neighborhood of San Rafael.
Officials say sandbags will be pre-filled and available to residents at no cost.
With memories of last winter's flooding still fresh, local agencies say the goal is to have supplies and equipment in place before the first major storms arrive.
