San Franciscans urged to prepare
for possible flooding

South of Market, Mission District, Excelsior, Outer Sunset neighborhoods at risk

By Brigid Gaffikin, Bay City News Service

February 27, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - San Franciscans are being urged to prepare for the possibility of floods this week as weather forecasters predict continued rain through Sunday.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is issuing a "flood risk alert" to encourage residents living in areas below flood level to take steps to protect their homes and workplaces from possible floods by positioning sandbags and reporting clogged or blocked drains and storm basins right away.

"We can't afford to let our guard down," said Susan Leal, SFPUC general manager. "We want to remind those in flood-prone areas that heavy, sustained rains bring the threat of flooding in low-lying areas and that everyone should take the necessary precautions."

Neighborhoods particularly prone to flooding include South of Market, the Mission District, Excelsior and the outer Sunset, SFPUC spokesman Tyrone Jue said.

Crews from the SFPUC will be on standby this week so that response times to flood emergencies can be reduced.

In storm preparations completed earlier this year under the SFPUC's $150 million "Wastewater Capital Improvement Program," several projects to improve flood-prone sections of the Mission and Excelsior were completed, according to the utility.

Residents can call city authorities for help with weather-related problems. For storm drain and catch basin cleaning, call (415) 695-2096, for flooding emergencies and sewer back ups call 911 or (415) 695-2096 and for sandbag pick-up, call the Department of Public Works at (415) 28-CLEAN. The DPW sandbag pickup yard is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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