Are you flood-ready? Climate change has made extreme weather the new normal, and as the rainy season approaches, Valley Water encourages you to take some time to make sure you are ready in case of a flood. It’s important to remember that floods can happen anytime it rains.
While Valley Water’s projects have improved flood protection for more than 100,000 homes, businesses and properties, parts of Santa Clara County are susceptible to flooding every year.
It’s important to plan ahead in the event of a flood or any other emergency. Follow these Get Flood Ready tips to keep your family, home, and business safe and prepared BEFORE an emergency.
Develop an emergency plan
An essential step toward being flood ready is preparing for an emergency. Discuss with members of your household what to do during a disaster. Agree on a meeting spot in case you are separated and ensure everyone knows a safe route to higher ground in the event of flooding. Identify emergency contacts in and out of town and a caretaker for individuals with special needs and pets. Write these details down and share a copy with everyone. Please visit ready.gov/plan for more details.
Put your 3-day emergency kit together
After designing your plan, create an emergency kit with tools and supplies, non-perishable food and water. When gathering water, remember you’ll need 3 gallons per person. Keep a copy of your emergency plan in your kit. Please visit ready.gov/kit for more details.
Download disaster emergency apps
Sign up for Santa Clara County’s official emergency alert and warning system, AlertSCC. Use the information provided by AlertSCC in addition to local, state, and federal alert and warning systems to get the most up-to-date information on emergencies and disasters happening in your area. Monitor television, radio, and county and city websites for important announcements. Another helpful tool is the American Red Cross Emergency Alerts, an all-hazards app allowing you to receive and monitor flood alerts based on location.
Know your flood risk
You don’t have to live next door to a creek to be impacted by flooding. Check whether your house or business is in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and learn how to interpret FEMA flood maps. You can also call your local floodplain manager to determine whether your property is in or out of a floodplain. Your floodplain manager will have information about additional problems not shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), such as flood depth data, special flood-related hazards, historical flood information and natural floodplain function areas. Contact Valley Water’s Community Projects Review for additional assistance at 408-630-2650.
Get flood insurance ahead of time
If you do live in a FEMA-designated flood zone, you must purchase flood insurance if you have a federally insured mortgage. Renter’s insurance is also available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). To find a local agent, visit FloodSmart.gov or call the NFIP help center at 1-800-427-4661.Even if you already have a policy, homeowner's and renter’s insurance policies don’t cover damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
Protect your home from flood threats
Valley Water offers free, filled sandbags for residents of Santa Clara County. Loose sand and empty bags for self-filling are also available at various locations; make sure to bring a shovel, just in case.
Keep debris and trash out of our streams
Healthy, flowing creeks reduce flood risks by carrying stormwaters away from properties and roads. Don’t pollute, dump, or drain anything in creeks. Dumping into a stream is illegal; it affects the water quality, creek habitat and can cause blockages, increasing flood risks. Report blockages like wood or debris dumping in creeks to the Valley Water Watersheds Operations & Maintenance hotline at 408-630-2378. Report pollution in a creek, pond or reservoir, call 1-888-510-5151. You can also report these issues through Access Valley Water.
Understand shallow flooding risks - don't drive through standing water
Never walk or drive through flooded areas, no matter how shallow. Six inches of moving water can cause an adult to fall. One foot of water is enough to float away a vehicle, including SUVs and pick-up trucks. Never drive around the barriers blocking a flooded road. Understand shallow water flooding risks—don’t drive or walk through standing water. Floodwaters can also be contaminated with oil, gasoline, or raw sewage and hide downed power lines that may have electrically charged the water. Never allow children to play in floodwaters.
Build responsibly in floodplains
Construction within Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) zones has special permit requirements from your city government. Property owners can also make physical alterations to buildings to reduce flood risks and flood insurance premiums, such as elevating a structure. Check with your local floodplain manager first to ensure compliance with special requirements before you build or begin upgrades to your property. Contact your local floodplain manager for more information.
Be Prepared– Stay Informed During Storms & Emergencies
While Valley Water's projects have improved flood protection for more than 100,000 homes, businesses and properties, parts of Santa Clara County are susceptible to flooding every year.
As the rainy season approaches, these additional flood-protection resources can be helpful to ensure you are flood-safe:
- Flood Safety Advice: Before, During, After - Even if you feel you live in a community with a low risk of flooding, remember that anywhere it rains, it can flood. Flooding is the most common and often the most destructive type of natural disaster. Although floods are often associated with overflowing rivers and sea swells accompanying tropical storms, they can happen in areas far from a body of water. By being prepared and following safety advice, you can have peace of mind during flood events, knowing that you have taken steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. Ultimately, following flood safety advice is important because it prioritizes your safety, protects your property, supports emergency response efforts, and contributes to the resilience and well-being of your community.
- AlertSCC - Sign up for Santa Clara County’s official emergency alert and warning system. Use the information provided by AlertSCC to get the most up-to-date information on emergencies and disasters happening in your area.
- American Red Cross Emergency Alerts - An all-hazards app allowing you to receive and monitor flood alerts based on location.
- Surface Water Data Portal - The surface water real-time data portal allows users to easily navigate and self-serve Valley Water’s rain, stream, and reservoir sensor data. In addition, it strives to provide relevant flood information based on the readings from the sensors. Includes the flood watch thresholds and ALERT data. Please Note: Raw real-time data is always preliminary.
- National Weather Service Alert - Watches, warnings, or advisories for Santa Clara County. This page shows alerts currently in effect for the county and is normally updated every two to three minutes.
- Follow Valley Water on Social Media: X (formerlyTwitter), Facebook and Instagram
- 2023 Flood Awareness Mailer
Questions?
Call Valley Water at (408) 265-2600 or use Access Valley Water, our online customer service portal.