Prepare for high winds: If you have a yard, patio, or balcony, look around and think about what might need to be moved or secured. Many of us in Richmond feel experienced with wind, right? But winter storm winds can be quite another thing when coming with driving rain. This winter’s storms are predicted to be stronger than average.

Prepare for power outages: Make a point of charging devices ahead of time when a storm is predicted. Be sure to have a supply of flashlights and batteries, and keep a flashlight where you can find it in the dark! If you depend on power for medical devices, now is the time to get a backup plan in place.

Prepare for flooding: Streets that usually drain well can instead flood if the quantity of rain coming down is more than usual and when storms follow each other so quickly that the ground stays saturated.

• If you have a concern with a storm drain that seems to back up every winter, call Veolia Water (510-412-2001), who are contracted by the City of Richmond to maintain all of the storm drains in Richmond (as well as the sanitary sewers in most of Richmond).

• To report dumping, spills, and trash in street gutters, call 510-231-3030

• To report pollutants entering a storm drain, call 911 or 1-800-NO-DUMPING

• Sandbags: If your home or garage may flood, have some sandbags on hand before the storms.

Did you know that there are several self-service sandbag stations in and near Richmond? Equipment and supplies for public self-service are available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week at these locations:

• Corp Yard back entrance - east side of Harbour Way, north of Ohio Ave, next to the Richmond Greenway.

• Bayview Branch Library parking lot (behind the fire station) - 5100 Hartnett Ave.

• West County Detention Center parking lot - 5555 Giant Highway. Bring your own shovel. Call Contra Costa County Public Works for more info: 925-313-7000.

Seniors and people with disabilities within the City of Richmond can request sandbags delivered to their homes. Call Mon-Fri 7am to 2pm, 510-231-3011. (You will have to go through the City’s AI receptionist and then you will talk to a very nice human being, if you have the same experience I had.)