Where are Sand Bags available? 

See the table below for where sand bags are available in every San Mateo County jurisdiction

Jurisdiction 

Location bags available 

Atherton 

Sand, shovel and bags- available, Corp Yard Dinkelspiel Station Lane near Fair Oaks when the yard is open - call 752-0570 

Belmont 

1) Belmont Corp Yard 110 Sem Lane - sand, shovel and bags – available. Limit 10 sand bags for each Belmont address; 2) City Hall, located at 1 Twin Pines and 3) the Barrett Community Center parking lot at 1870 Ralston Ave. 

Brisbane 

Brisbane City Hall parking lot, 50 Park Place. Residents only – limit 10 bags per residence. 

Burlingame 

600 California Dr. at Floribunda Ave. (vacant lot) 

Colma 

Town Corporation Yard, 601 F Street 

Daly City 

Sand Bags available at: 1)Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant 153 Lake Merced Blvd. Open 24 hours, every day residents limit 10 sand bags; 2) Public Works Corporation Yard, 798 Niantic Ave. Monday – Friday 7 a.m.  3:00 p.m. residents limit 10 sand bags.  

East Palo Alto 

Sand, shovel and bags available Monday-Friday 8am to 3pm, except holidays, at 150 Tara Road, or call 853-5916 

Foster City 

Build your own sandbags at Foster City Hall, 610 Foster City Blvd.  

Half Moon Bay 

The Train Depot, 110 Higgins Canyon Road 8:30am to 5pm., in the James Hill Johnston House Parking Lot. 

Hillsborough 

Hillsborough Town Hall, 1600 Floribunda Ave. (Walnut parking lot) 

Menlo Park 

Sand bags are available for residents at 1) Island in front of 222 Laurel Avenue; 2) The parking lot at Burgess Drive and Alma Street. (Loose sand avail at 1st heavy rain); 3) The Menlo Park Fire District Station 77 1467 Chilco Street 

Millbrae 

600 block of Millbrae Avenue between Elder and Palm, next to the Spur Trail  

Pacifica 

Locations include: 1) Public Works Corporation Yard on Milagra – open Monday-Thursday 7am – 4pm/Fridays 7am to 330pm; 2) Linda Mar Fire Station open 24/7 residents required to fill bags. Limit 25 per person; Corp Yard 650-738-3760 

Portola Valley 

Sand, bags and shovels at Portola Valley Town Center, by the South driveway near the tennis courts  

Redwood City 

Public parking lot at the City Corporation Yard at 1400 Broadway and Chestnut Streets 

San Bruno 

Build your own sandbags, Sand, bags and shovels at City Hall Parking Lot south of 555 El Camino Real 

San Carlos 

Resident and merchants may fill 10 bags. Available the city corporation yard, employee parking lot at 1000 Branston Rd. 

San Mateo 

Self-Serv sandbags are at 2 locations: 1) 2015 Detroit Dr San Mateo: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week; 2) 1949 Pacific Blvd., San Mateo hours, 24 hours, and 7 days a week, for San Mateo Residents and Property Owners only. 

South San Francisco 

Public works Building, 550 North Canal Street (usually placed in a pallet in the parking lot for citizens to take)  

Woodside 

Sand and bags are available in the parking lot of Town Hall, 2955 Woodside Road (Cross Street is Whiskey Hill) 

Unincorporated County Residents 

Four locations: 1) Pescadero - High School 350 Butano Cut-Off; 2) La Honda - Corporation Yard 59 Entrada Way; 3) Princeton - County Corporation Yard 203 Cornell Avenue; 4) Redwood City - Grant County Corporation Yard - 752 Chestnut St Redwood City 

 

Weather Alert & Warning Information 

What’s the difference between a National Weather Service Weather Advisory, Watch, or Warning? 

A Weather Advisory indicates that current conditions, while less serious than a Warning, should be taken seriously as they can still threaten life or property if caution is not exercised. They are typically issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, imminent, or likely. 

A Weather Watch indicates that the risk of a hazardous weather event has increased significantly, but it’s occurrence, location, or timing is still uncertain. 

A Weather Warning indicates that conditions pose a threat to life or property and that travel will become difficult to impossible. It warns that hazardous conditions are happening. 

For more information, visit the National Weather Service page here. 

To ensure that you receive all San Mateo County-specific Alerts, sign up for SMC Alert here. 

Flooding Preparedness and Response

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States and have happened in San Mateo County. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death.

Floods may:

  • Result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges and overflows f dams and other waterway systems.
  • Develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can come with no warning.
  • Cause outages, disrupt transportation, damage buildings and create landslides.

Before the Flood

  • Sign up for SMC Alerts – if we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you!
  • Know the difference between National Weather Service terminology “Watch” and “Warning”.
  • A Flood “Watch” means that conditions are such that flooding MAY happen.
  • A Flood “Warning” means that flooding is imminent or may already be happening.
  • IF a Flood “Warning” is issued:
    • Find shelter right away.
    • Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
    • Remember, only six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
    • Stay off bridges over fast moving water.
    • Depending on the type of flooding:
      • Evacuate if told to do so.
      • Move to higher ground or a higher floor.
      • Stay where you are.
      • Acquire sand bags if your property is prone to flooding.

During the Flood

  • Evacuate immediately if told to evacuate. Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you are sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. · Listen to the KCBS 740 AM, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding.
  • Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!
  • Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
  • Stay inside your car if it is trapped in rapidly moving water. Get on the roof if water is rising inside the car.
  • Get to the highest level if trapped in a building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising flood water.

After the Flood

  • Pay attention to official information and instructions. Return home only when officials say it is safe.
  • Avoid driving except in emergencies.
  • Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during clean up and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris. § People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.
  • Be aware that snakes and other animals may be in your house.
  • Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
  • Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
  • Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.

Additional Resources

FEMA Flood Map Service Center

NOAA Weather Radio National Weather Service SF Bay Area Forecast Weather Map American Red Cross – Flood Safety Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Cover Floods National Flood Insurance Program