The City of San Diego is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of residents living in floodplain areas by distributing educational pamphlets with vital information on how to prepare for potential flooding. The informational brochures, which will be sent to about 10,000 residents who live in or own property in a floodplain, contain essential guidelines on emergency preparedness, evacuation plans, flood insurance and other critical flood-related resources.

“Flooding can have a devastating impact on our community, and it’s crucial that our residents are well-prepared,” said City Stormwater Department Director Todd Snyder. “These educational flyers provide the necessary information to help families protect themselves, their homes and their property. We encourage everyone to take steps to prepare before the next big storm.”

The pamphlets include important tips on:

• How to protect your property.
• What steps to take before, during and after a flood.
• Understanding your potential flood risk.
• Purchasing flood insurance.
• How to contact the City for needed services.

Residents are encouraged to review the information and implement measures to protect against flood damage.

At the same time, the City is taking steps to prevent flooding and ensure the safety and well-being of residents. Maintenance teams with the Stormwater Department have been clearing vegetation and trash from channels throughout San Diego.

Following the emergency declaration issued in response to the January 2024 rain event, the City conducted emergency maintenance on about 18 miles of channels citywide, including 12 miles in the Chollas Creek watershed. The extent of this maintenance work was only made possible by an emergency declaration that allowed the City to proceed with maintenance without environmental permits, which can typically take 1-2 years to secure. The City’s emergency channel clearing resulted in the removal of more than 9,800 tons of debris.  Mayor Todd Gloria included more than $8 million in funding in the Stormwater Department budget this fiscal year to maintain those 18 miles of channels ahead of the upcoming rainy season.

For more information and resources on how to properly prepare before a storm, please visit the City’s Storm Preparedness webpage. To find out if your home is in a floodplain, go to sandiego.gov/floodplain.

Residents are asked to report illegal dumping and trash near creeks or stormwater infrastructure on the GetItDone app, by calling 619-235-1000 or by emailing swppp@sandiego.gov.