For immediate release: November 9, 2015 
Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045

San Francisco – Public Works and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission are teaming up this month to host two “Sandbag Saturdays” to prepare residents for the winter rainy season.

San Francisco residents can get up to 10 free sandbags at five neighborhood pop-up distribution sites the next two Saturdays, November 14 and November 21.

The sandbags are intended to protect properties prone to flooding. People must show proof of San Francisco residency to receive them.

“Sandbag Saturdays are just one way the City is preparing for wet and windy winter storms,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “It’s important for our residents to be prepared and plan ahead to protect their homes during the possible El Niño storms, and I have directed all our City departments to work together to make sure the City is ready. Let’s all be prepared.”

Sandbags will be available on November 14 and November 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the following locations:

• San Francisco Fire Department training facility, Folsom Street/19th St.
• Marina Green parking lot, Marina Blvd./Marina Green Drive
• The Great Highway at Balboa Street 
• Lake Merced – Sunset Circle parking lot, Sunset Blvd./Lake Merced Blvd.
• Recology Golden Gate, 900 Seventh St. at Berry Street

“With forecasts trending toward a wet El Niño winter in San Francisco, it is critical that we all prepare for what could be a very stormy season,” said San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “Sandbags can keep water from flooding homes and businesses. Not everyone needs them, but if you do, the City is prepared to help.”

Added SFPUC General Manager Harlan Kelly, "Sandbags can provide additional protection for our residents and businesses that need them. We're actively cleaning our sewers to ensure the system performs as designed this rainy season.”

If you can’t make it to one of the City’s Sandbag Saturdays, residents can stop by the Public Works’ operations yard, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 2323 Cesar Chavez St. Enter at the Marin Street/Kansas Street gate.

To help prevent localized flooding, City officials also urge people to sweep up leaves and litter from the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses and put them in the appropriate green, blue or black bin to keep them from clogging catch basins.

Public Works will give residents and merchants who sign up for our Adopt-a-Street program free compost bags, brooms, gloves and other tools needed to help keep neighborhoods free of green waste, litter and graffiti.

If you want to sign up for Adopt-a-Street or if you spot a blocked catch basin or street flooding, contact the 311 customer service center. Call 311, log on at sf311.org, or use the free mobile app.

More tips on storm preparedness can be found at sfwater.org/StormPrep.