FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 4, 2012 

Contact: Rachel Gordon, DPW Office of Communications 

(415) 554-6045, rachel.gordon@sfdpw.org

PUBLIC WORKS GEARS UP FOR MORE RAIN 

Residents and business owners can prepare, too

San Francisco, CA – With more rain in the forecast, the storms last weekend served as a good reminder of what should be done to prepare.

“The San Francisco Department of Public Works is getting ready for the expected rains – clearing catch basins, checking for vulnerable trees – and we hope the public can help out, too,” said DPW Director Mohammed Nuru. “Please sweep up leaves in front of your homes and businesses, and put them in the compost. Litter should go in the trash or recycling bins. Small efforts like this can help reduce the chance of flooding.”

DPW is providing free sandbags to help people in low-lying neighborhoods protect their homes and businesses.

The sandbags, available only to San Francisco residents and businesses, can be picked up at the DPW Operations Yard, 2323 Cesar Chavez St. Enter at Marin and Kansas streets. In general, there is a limit of 10 sandbags per household or business.

The public is encouraged to call the City’s 3-1-1 Customer Service Center to report clogged drains, localized flooding or storm-damaged trees.

DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services.

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