SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Northern California is experiencing its first significant rainstorm of the season, prompting residents and officials to take precautionary measures to avoid potential flooding and damage.
Sacramento County officials have been preparing for months, encouraging residents to act early to secure resources like sandbags.
“That way, if we do have a series of storms and all of a sudden, we start to see the floods like we did in 2023, people aren't rushing here at the last second to grab sandbags and find out that there are none left,” said Sacramento County Public Information Manager Matt Robinson.
Meanwhile, hardware stores like Rio Linda Hardware are seeing a surge in last-minute shoppers. According to Assistant Manager Chloee Miller, customers are primarily purchasing supplies like caulk, roof patches and tarps to address leaks and protect their homes.
“They wait as long as they can and then they go, ‘Oh! I got a leak, got to fix that,’” Miller said, noting that some customers even use tarps to cover their roofs during the rain.
The storm brings hazards beyond potential flooding too. Officials warn that wet roads can become slippery and hide potholes, posing risks to drivers. Clogged storm drains are another concern, as fallen leaves can block water flow, leading to larger drainage issues.
“If we get a lot of rain in a short amount of time, that may cause some problems in terms of our local systems being inundated with too much water all at once,” Robinson added.
Residents are urged to clear gutters and storm drains of debris to prevent blockages and to drive cautiously as roads may be more hazardous during downpours.
Despite the challenges, county officials noted that this first storm poses a lower risk of trees falling due to the ground not yet being saturated. This concern is expected to increase later in the season as the soil becomes wetter.
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