**PRESS ADVISORY** 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 12, 2012 

CONTACT: Gloria Chan (415) 554-6926, Gloria.chan@sfdpw.org

PUBLIC WORKS GETS READY FOR UPCOMING RAIN AND REMINDS RESIDENTS TO PREPARE 

Free Sandbags Offered to Residents

San Francisco, CA— In preparation for a series of rainstorms, the San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) is clearing catch basins and reminding property owners, businesses and residents to prepare by ensuring sidewalks are free of debris and leaves to minimize potential localized flooding.

In addition to sweeping leaves off the sidewalks and streets, residents living in low-lying neighborhoods can prepare for the storms and protect their property by picking up FREE sandbags at the DPW’s Operations Yard at 2323 Cesar Chavez, Monday through Friday between 7 am to 4 pm. There is a limit of 10 sand bags per household. Proof of residency is required.

Residents can also learn more about a multi-agency educational campaign called ‘Turn Brown Leaves Green’ launched by the Department of Public Works in partnership with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco Department of Environment and Recology, that aims to raise awareness about how to prepare for the upcoming rainy season and alternatives to putting leaves and yard trimmings in the trash, such as placing them in compost bins and using them for school art projects.

The ‘Turn Brown Leaves Green’ campaign is designed to engage property owners to be part of the on-going cleaning efforts through DPW’s Adopt-A-Street Program. By signing up for this program, applicants will receive a free brown leaf bag to collect yard waste to help keep their sidewalk clean and safe while diverting leaves and green waste from the landfill. For information about how to prepare for the next storm and to more about the ‘Turn Brown Leaves Green’ campaign, the public can call 3-1-1 or visit DPW’s website atwww.sfdpw.org. For emergency preparation tips, visit www.72hours.org

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. For more information, visit www.sfdpw.org.

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