Storms & Flooding 2026-2027

• Learn whether your home, business or travel routes are in a flood-prone area.
• Clear private gutters and drains. Remove leaves near street drains only when safe, without entering traffic or floodwater. Put leaves in your green organics cart.
• Have a qualified professional inspect unstable trees and branches.
• Stock food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries and portable chargers.
• Plan for mobility needs, medical equipment, refrigerated medications, service animals and pets.
• Know how to open your garage door manually.
• Plan how household members will communicate and where you will go if you need to evacuate. Include language needs.
• Ask neighbors whether they would like a check-in or other help. Sharing personal information is voluntary.
• Keep some cash available and enough fuel or battery charge in your vehicle for an evacuation.

Know your flood risk

Use the San Mateo County GIS hazard risk map to explore mapped hazards near your home or business. This planning tool does not show current storm conditions.

Discuss long-term drainage, floodproofing and utility improvements with qualified professionals before making changes. Learn about flood insurance and review flood preparedness guidance .

Subscribe to the City's Weekly Digest for routine City news and preparedness information. Use SMC Alert for emergency notifications.

Before the rain

• Secure loose outdoor items and place sandbags where water could enter.
• Charge phones, batteries and essential equipment; refill prescriptions.
• Move vehicles away from low areas and unstable trees. Move valuables and important documents to a higher, dry location when safe.
• Follow forecasts, SMC Alert and City updates. Check on neighbors who may need help.

During a storm or power outage

• Stay away from creeks and drainage channels. Follow evacuation instructions and road closures, and avoid unnecessary travel and outdoor activity.
• Use flashlights instead of candles; keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
• Unplug sensitive electronics. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water.
• Run generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. Never connect one directly to household wiring without a properly installed transfer switch.
• Never use a gas stove, charcoal grill or outdoor heater to heat an indoor space.

If you must drive

• Check road conditions, tires, headlights and windshield wipers before leaving.
• Use headlights in rain, slow down and leave extra following distance.
• Obey road closures and give emergency vehicles room to pass.
• Treat a dark traffic signal as a stop sign and proceed carefully when safe.
• Keep water, a flashlight, a first aid kit and a blanket in your vehicle.

More power-outage guidance

• Wait for safe conditions before inspecting damage.
• Avoid standing water, unstable trees and downed utility lines.
• Photograph damage when it is safe and contact your insurance provider.
• Treat items exposed to floodwater as potentially contaminated.
• Report blocked drains, fallen trees and public-property damage.
• Check on neighbors who may need assistance.
• Watch for damaged buildings, slippery surfaces, broken glass, nails and other debris.
• Have a qualified professional check flood-damaged electrical equipment before use.
• If you suspect a gas leak, leave the area and call 911 from a safe location, then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

To help your neighborhood prepare, explore Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and other emergency preparedness training through the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

Heavy rain can overwhelm drains and raise San Francisquito Creek quickly. Strong winds can bring down trees and interrupt power. Repeated storms can saturate soil and leave trees unstable.

High Bay levels can slow drainage near the shoreline. Flooding may worsen when heavy rain, high creek flows and high tides overlap.

Areas to watch include San Francisquito Creek, Atherton Channel, Belle Haven, the Bayfront, low streets, underpasses and places with recurring ponding. Flooding can occur elsewhere.

El Niño is a seasonal climate pattern, not a forecast for a particular storm. Local effects depend on each storm’s strength, path and timing.

Creek and channel water levels

• San Francisquito Creek: View creek levels and cameras from the City of Palo Alto .
• Atherton Channel: View the OneShoreline sensor upstream of Caltrain .

Check each monitor's timestamp. Water-level readings describe conditions; follow official alerts and evacuation instructions when deciding what action to take.

Outages, roads and City information

Check the latest information before traveling or visiting a temporary service location.

• View PG&E's outage map .
• Check Bay Area traffic alerts .
• Visit the City website and official City social media channels .

The City provides free sand and empty bags for residents. Burgess Park and Fire Station 77 are year-round locations. The Pope Street station is temporary; confirm activation before visiting.

Bring a shovel, wear gloves and work with another person when possible. Sandbags may help redirect water, but they do not create a watertight barrier.

Sandbag status last confirmed: Oct. 16, 2026

Learn how to fill, place, reuse and dispose of sandbags

Do not call 911 for general storm information or routine service requests.

Call for urgent hazards; do not rely on an online request for immediate help. Provide the location and a brief description. Include photographs only if you can take them safely.

• Report debris or other non-emergency concerns in San Francisquito Creek to the Joint Powers Authority .
• Report a PG&E power outage online .

More resources

• San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority
• MenloPrepared
• Past City news and storm updates (historical information; forecasts, closures and service availability apply only to the dates listed)