NEWS RELEASE 
SFPUC Contact:
Nancy Crowley
ncrowley@sfwater.org
628-629-1748

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO — The rainy season is underway, and the City is prepared for the peak winter storms still to come. San Francisco leadership, including the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), is encouraging residents and businesses to plan ahead and prepare for the wet weather with the many resources the City offers. These include:

"Heavy rainstorms, such as the atmospheric rivers bringing intense rainfall from the Pacific Ocean, can cause severe flooding, property damage, and risks to public safety," Mayor London Breed said. "That’s why we established ClimateSF, a collaborative effort bringing together City agencies to develop strategies and solutions that support the resilience of the City’s infrastructure and the people who rely on it. This includes providing resources to help people protect their families, loved ones, and property. Our goal is to ensure that our communities are prepared and resilient, able to weather these storms with minimal disruption and damage."

"California is experiencing weather whiplash, with climate change fueling intense droughts followed by historic storms and flooding," SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera said. "While we’re facing tough challenges, we’re also making generational investments in resilient infrastructure and clean energy. These investments are vital, but they’re not a cure-all. The flooding we have seen in recent years up and down California and across the country tells us that creative approaches are needed. As we face more powerful storms, it’s critical that residents and businesses partner with us and take steps to protect their properties. We have funding and other resources to help. Together, we can make a difference.” 

SFPUC crews clean a storm drain using a Vac-Con truck.

The SFPUC encourages both residential and commercial property owners to sign up for flood insurance. San Francisco is a member of the National Flood Insurance Program, which subsidizes flood insurance, bringing down the cost of insurance premiums and covering flood damage to buildings and building contents.

The SFPUC also urges property owners who have experienced damage from heavy rains to apply for a Floodwater Grant, which offers up to $100,000 to eligible residential and commercial properties for flood resiliency projects. Improvements eligible for funding include backwater valves to prevent sewage backups, flood barriers for doors and driveways, water-resistant seals, sump pumps, and regrading to improve drainage and reduce flood risk. 

The SFPUC’s Floodwater Grant Guidebook has been recently updated to simplify the application process. Grant staff will support applicants by conducting site visits, determining eligibility, suggesting floodproofing measures and guiding them through the application steps. Details on this and other resources can be found at sfpuc.gov/rainreadysf. 

The SFPUC’s Green Infrastructure Grant Program funds projects on large properties and in public spaces to reduce stormwater runoff. San Francisco property owners can apply for funding to design and build green infrastructure projects such as rain gardens, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting systems, and green roofs.

Since 2019, the SFPUC has awarded $23.7 million in green infrastructure grant funding. The program awards approximately $10 million annually to schools, arts organizations, health care facilities and other facilities with large properties and public spaces to green their landscape and make them rain ready. Information on how to apply can be found at: sfpuc.gov/gigrant.

Additionally, anyone who has green infrastructure on their property can apply for a credit on the stormwater component of their bill. More information on the stormwater component and credit can be found at stormwater.sfpuc.org. 

Sandbags placed along doorways, driveways, and low-lying areas create temporary barriers to keep water from entering homes and buildings, reducing the risk of flood damage during heavy rainfall. Residents and businesses may retrieve up to 10 free sandbags from the Public Works’ Operations Yard. Enter through the gate at Kansas and Marin streets. Sandbags may be picked up year-round, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information is available at sfpublicworks.org/sandbags.

"Sandbags are an important resource to help our residents and businesses whose properties are prone to flooding, adding another layer of protection during storms," said San Francisco Public Works Director Carla Short. "We have a good supply of sandbags on hand for people who need them to be prepared for the coming rains."

The SFPUC’s 100-year Storm Flood Risk Map is a valuable tool for residents, helping them understand their flood risk and take steps to protect their properties, contributing to a more flood-resilient city. This fall, the map will be updated to show flood elevations. A flood elevation is the height (rounded to the nearest foot) that stormwater flooding is likely to reach during a 100-year storm.  

Sellers or landlords of property in San Francisco are required by law to disclose to buyers or tenants if a property is within the flood risk zone as identified on the SFPUC’s Flood Map. Flood elevations are not required to be disclosed but are provided to help renters and owners take steps to protect their properties and belongings and minimize potential flood impacts. 

The SFPUC closely monitors approaching storms and deploys crews and equipment citywide to clear catch basins, especially in low-lying areas, ahead of heavy rain. During storms, crews are dispatched to monitor these areas and use hand tools and mechanical equipment to reduce localized flooding whenever possible.   

Several City departments partner to prepare for and respond to storms. San Francisco Public Works trims trees, clears storm drains, and procures and deploys sandbags. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management helps coordinate storm preparation and response, supporting residents and businesses.  

"As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of severe storms, we all need to take steps to prepare for the impacts of flooding, landslides, and prolonged power outages," said San Francisco Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Mary Ellen Carroll. "Before the next storm, check your supplies and make sure you have what you need on hand. Check on loved ones who may need assistance preparing for the storm, especially older adults or neighbors with disabilities. Sign up for AlertSF to receive real-time emergency alerts by texting your ZIP code to 888-777. Visit SF72.org for more storm safety tips."

Residents can help reduce flooding by joining the SFPUC’s Adopt-a-Drain and Rain Guardians programs pledging to clean and maintain one or more of the City’s 25,000 drains (or catch basins) or rain gardens. Community members should report issues like localized flooding, clogged storm drains, sewage backups, or wastewater odors by calling 3-1-1 or visiting www.sf311.org.

While residents can take steps to manage the impacts of severe storms, the SFPUC is also investing $634 million in capital projects in three key low-lying neighborhoods to help reduce the risk of flooding. The first project was completed at the end of 2023. The second project broke ground in fall 2023, and the third is in the planning phase:

No sewer or stormwater system can reasonably manage the intensity, volume, and duration of the exceptionally large storms we’ve experienced in recent years. Building pipes, pump stations and storage vaults large enough to prevent flooding in such events is not feasible. Improving stormwater resilience requires a multi-pronged approach involving residents, businesses, government agencies, and community organizations.  
 
This includes designing the City’s surface to better handle flooding and being mindful of what, where, and how we build. The SFPUC is working with partner agencies to propose a flood-resilient building code and strategies for flood-resilient design, aiming to create an equitable, safe, and healthy city for generations to come.

About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets over 70 percent of the electricity demand in San Francisco. Our mission is to provide our customers with high-quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. Learn more at sfpuc.gov.

communications@sfwater.org