Know Your Risk for Floods
Understand your property’s flood risk by checking FEMA flood maps and knowing if you’re in a flood zone. Even areas outside high-risk zones can experience flooding during severe storms.
Preparing for a Flood
- Establish evacuation routes and a family meeting point
- Keep emergency contacts readily accessible
- Sign up for AlertMarin to receive emergency alerts and warnings directly to your phone, email, or text
- Prepare a “go bag” or a “disaster kit” with essentials: water, food, medications, flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, important documents, and cash
- Identify safe locations on higher ground
Review Your Insurance Coverage
Standard homeowners’ insurance does NOT cover flood damage. You need a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.
Protect Your Property
Clear gutters and downspouts, ensure proper drainage around your home, and consider installing check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. Move valuable items and important documents to higher levels of your home or place in a waterproof containers. Also, take advantage of the City Sandbag Program, which runs annually from October through March and provides residents with sandbags and/or sand on a first-come, first-serve basis. Learn more below.
Flood Prevention
Dispose of yard waste and leaves by composting or using your green cart. There is no extra service charge for using up to two additional carts or paper bags – 32 gallons or smaller. You can also rent an additional 64-gallon green cart from Marin Sanitary Service. Don’t place anything in the street or in the way of a drainage system. If your home is in the path of runoff, get sandbags and keep plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber on hand to divert water and debris. If your basement is subject to flooding, consider installing a sump pump with generator back-up. Don’t pour chemicals, paints, or other Household Hazardous Waste in areas where it might flow into the storm drain.