Full Notification

MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNITY ALERT
FROM THE CITY of SAN MATEO POLICE DEPARTMENT

SMPD MEDIA AND COMMUNITY ALERT: California Braces for the "Storm of the Decade"

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning and Flash Flood Watch for the San Mateo Peninsula to take effect from Wednesday, December 10th at 10:00 PM to Friday, December 12th at 04:00 AM. This is due to the arrival of what some experts are calling California’s “Storm of the Decade”, with extremely heavy rains and high winds approaching 40 mph or more. SMPD would ask that everyone please be careful over the next few days because although we will receive some much needed rain, this storm brings with it the inherent need for us all to travel with caution and look out for one another. So, please stay safe this week and do your best to stay dry.

STORM SAFETY TIPS
• PLEASE SLOW DOWN on the wet roads.
• Avoid ANY AND ALL driving distractions. Rain limits visibility and increases braking distance. A moment’s distraction could have tragic consequences.
• STOP FOR DARK STOPLIGHTS. Inoperative stop lights require everyone to stop before safely proceeding. No exceptions.
• STOP FOR THE FLASHING RED. Treat a flashing red stop light just as you would a stop sign.
• Be aware of the potential for flooding on our roadways as we experience extremely heavy rains.
• Call the Storm Hotline at (650) 522-7300 to report blocked storm drains, street flooding and any creek concerns.
• Need sandbags?? Sandbags are available to San Mateo residents. Sandbags are critical tools in storm preparedness; therefore, we make them available to our residents year round.

City of San Mateo Corporation Yard: 1949 Pacific Boulevard, San Mateo
Available Monday through Friday, from 7:00am to 3:30pm
Limit 10 sandbags per household
For more information please call (650) 522-7300

SOME HELPFUL WEBSITES
• Traffic updates: http://www.511.org
• National Weather Service: Bay Area Weather Updates: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/
• San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services - Storm and Flood Preparedness Information: http://www.smcready.org/

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH -- WORK AS A TEAM AND PROTECT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Please help us make your neighborhood safer and take a stand against crime. If a Neighborhood Watch doesn’t exist on your block, you can start one with help from SMPD. For additional information about the City of San Mateo Neighborhood Watch Program, call SMPD Community Services at (650)522-7626 or visit our web www.cityofsanmateo.org.