El Niño conditions

Get your property ready for heavy rain and potential flooding.

• Clear leaves and debris from gutters, storm drains and drainage areas around your property.
• Inspect your roof for leaks or areas that may need repair.
• Check trees for damaged or weak branches and trim them when appropriate.
• Secure outdoor furniture, trash cans and other loose items for strong winds.
• Consider using mulch, terracing or groundcover to help prevent erosion in areas where water, mud and debris may flow downhill.
• Inspect drainage channels and culverts on your property before and after storms and keep them clear of debris.
• Know how to properly fill and place sandbags to help protect areas of your property that may be vulnerable to flooding.

Learn how to fill and properly place sandbags(PDF, 150KB)

Make a plan so everyone in your household knows what to do before and during a storm.

• Create or review a family emergency plan.
• Know your evacuation routes and choose a meeting place in case you are separated.
• Stock an emergency kit with essentials: food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries and other essentials.
• Keep copies of important documents in a safe, waterproof location.
• Keep vehicles fueled or charged, and check tires and windshield wipers before a storm.
• Sign up for emergency alerts through Alert San Diego or Genasys Protect.

Plan ahead to protect employees, property and business operations.

• Identify areas of your property that may be vulnerable to flooding or water intrusion.
• Check roofs, gutters, drains, doors and windows before the rainy season.
• Move equipment, inventory and important records away from areas at risk of water damage.
• Back up important business records electronically or store copies in a secure off-site location.
• Review insurance coverage and understand responsibilities for storm-related damage if you lease your space.
• Create or review an emergency plan for employees, including evacuation procedures and emergency contacts.
• Establish how you will communicate closures, schedule changes or other important information to employees and customers.
• Plan for possible power outages, road closures or other disruptions to normal operations.
• Keep emergency and flood-protection supplies available before storms arrive.

During an emergency, residents are encouraged to check the city's website frequently, follow the City of San Marcos on facebook and twitter (@sanmarcoscity), and tune-in to radio station AM 1610 to stay updated with the latest safety information.

To receive up-to-date emergency notifications, residents are encouraged to register their mobile phones for the Alert San Diego emergency notification system by visiting Alert San Diego and also download the SD Emergency app available for iPhone and Android mobile devices.

Additionally, Genasys Protect can be accessed online or through the Genasys Protect mobile app, allowing users to receive notifications directly to their devices. By subscribing to specific “zones,” such as areas where they live, work, or frequently visit, residents can stay up to date on incidents impacting their community throughout San Diego County.

Simple steps to prepare for potential flooding

• Keep copies of important documents such as mortgage papers, deeds, passports, and bank information in your home in a watertight container or sealed plastic bag, and in a secure place outside the home like a bank deposit box.
• Save receipts for expensive household items as proof of the original costs.
• Take and store photos of your valuable possessions with your other important documents.
• Make itemized lists of other possessions not already listed and photographed. The more comprehensive the list, the easier it will be to file a claim.
• Always keep your policy and insurance agent’s contact information handy in the event you need to file a claim.

Tips for staying safe during a flood

• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and two feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
• Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
• Be especially vigilant for debris flows in and around past fire areas as these spaces have not been truly rain tested in several years.
• Follow evacuation orders and instructions from public safety officials.
• Continue monitoring official emergency alerts and weather information.

Steps to take after flooding occurs

• Wait for officials to say it is safe before returning to an evacuated area.
• Avoid standing or moving floodwater, which may contain debris, contaminants or other hazards.
• Stay away from downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment.
• Photograph property damage before beginning cleanup when it is safe to do so.
• Continue monitoring city information and emergency alerts for road closures, cleanup information and other updates.

The City of San Marcos is offering San Marcos residents free, fill-your-own sandbags to help protect streets from flooding and control soil erosion.

The sandbags can be filled and picked up at Hollandia Park, 12 Mission Hills Court; maximum 20 bags per household.

Heavy rains can cause soil erosion especially in areas not covered by lawns, trees, shrubs and plants. Water runoff, and especially mud and debris flows, can damage individual homes and properties and create even wider destruction by flooding roadways and clogging storm drains and culverts.

For more information about the city’s sandbag program, please call the City’s Public Works Department at 760-752-7550.

San Marcos actively prepares for potential flooding and other weather related emergencies to help reduce the impact to life and property from potential flooding. Some of these action items include:

• Public Works crews inspect and clear San Marcos drainage inlets, channels and culverts while identifying areas that are more susceptible to flooding and erosion.
• The San Marcos Fire Department and emergency operations personnel have deployment plans and flood related emergency response plans in case heavy rainfall produces significant flooding.
• Burn scars left by the May 2014 Cocos Fire are monitored as these areas can be at increased risk for debris flow. City crews place stormwater protection measures such as fiber rolls and hydro-mulch to protect against soil erosion.
• Finally, the City's Real Property Services Division has inspected roofs, roof drains and rain gutters on all public facilities to ensure they are clear of debris and are in good condition to withstand rain.

The City of San Marcos will closely monitor rainfall in high risk areas throughout San Marcos during storms along with the condition of soil erosion protection tools put in place.

Stormwater issues or damage occurring on private property are generally the responsibility of the property owner. If you have concerns about drainage or runoff between neighboring properties, work directly with your neighbor or homeowners association (HOA), if applicable. For questions about property damage or coverage, contact your homeowners insurance provider. 

The City of San Marcos responds to flooding, drainage and other storm-related issues within the public right-of-way when they fall within the city’s jurisdiction.