SF Helps Residents Prepare For El Niño Flooding With ‘Sandbag Saturdays’ Giveaways

The city is distributing free sandbags on Saturdays through December 5 in neighborhoods prone to flooding ahead of a potentially record-setting El Niño winter, while residents can also pick them up year-round at Public Works. San Francisco Public Works held its first neighborhood sandbag giveaway at Marina Green over the weekend, with approximately 800 bags distributed by noon, as KPIX reports . Organizers reportedly had to bring in additional supplies, as they had run out before the 2 pm cut-off. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill urged residents to take the possibility of flooding seriously. "It's not a question of if flooding will come, it's when," Sherrill said, speaking to ABC 7 . "The only way to do that is be prepared." The giveaways are intended to make storm preparations easier for people in neighborhoods with a history of flooding, rather than requiring residents to travel to a central distribution site. Gordon also asked people to be mindful of how many bags they take, prioritizing properties that have experienced flooding in previous years. Many residents said they would be using the sandbags to prevent their garages from flooding or to keep the water from traveling between properties on sloped streets. "We can't prevent the rain, but we can redirect the water," resident George Young told KPIX. Public Works is continuing its neighborhood giveaway series through December 5, with events scheduled in select neighborhoods from 8 am to 2 pm on various Saturdays. The next giveaway will take place November 14 at the Sunset Circle Parking Lot, at Sunset Boulevard and Lake Merced Boulevard. On November 21, sandbags will be available at both the Marina Green Triangle, at Marina Boulevard and Marina Green Drive, and the Ocean Beach Parking Lot, near Balboa Street and Stairwells 4–7 along the Great Highway. The final neighborhood giveaways are scheduled for December 5 on Sherman Street, between Folsom and Harrison streets, and at the Fire Training Center at 19th and Folsom streets. Residents can also pick up sandbags year-round at the Public Works Operations Yard, at the Kansas and Marin streets gate, Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm. The giveaways are limited to 10 sandbags per address. Residents must bring proof that they live or operate a business in San Francisco. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco Fire Department, and Rec and Park are also participating in the effort. The city's preparations come as the National Weather Service has extended a coastal flood advisory from last week through this Friday, warning of unusually high tides and localized flooding in low-lying coastal and bayshore areas from Sonoma County to Monterey County, according to NBC Bay Area . The advisory warns that high tides could cause up to 1.6 feet of flooding in low-lying areas, with possible road closures and coastal erosion. Residents are urged to allow extra travel time, anticipate road closures, and never drive through standing water. As SFist reported previously, Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local emergency last month to fast-track funding for storm supplies and neighborhood preparations. The elevated sea levels are being driven in part by El Niño-related ocean warming and powerful underwater Kelvin waves traveling up the Pacific coast, with even higher tides expected during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Previously: Bay Area Under Coastal Flood Advisory as Potential 16-Foot Waves Threaten Beaches