Where can I get free sandbags before winter storms in San Mateo or Santa Clara County?

Winter rain can bring real worry, especially if you have seen water come up before. A little work now can protect your home, your car and your things.

This page is general information. It covers getting ready for flooding. For help after a flood, including disaster aid open to everyone, see Where to get help before and after a wildfire, flood or earthquake.

Where can I get sandbags in East Palo Alto?

The city sandbag station is outside the Public Works Corporation Yard at 150 Tara Road, across from Bay Road.

• Hours: open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is restocked every weekday morning, starting October 15.
• Limit: 10 sandbags per household or business.
• What is there: sand, empty bags and shovels, while supplies last.
• What to bring: your own gloves. You fill your own bags. Bring someone to help lift if you can, because full bags are heavy.
• Questions: call (650) 853-3100 and ask for the Maintenance Division.

Where else in San Mateo County can I get sandbags?

San Mateo County keeps a list of sandbag sites for winter 2026 to 27. Most are fill your own.

• Menlo Park:
  • Fire Station 77, 1467 Chilco St.
  • Burgess Park parking lot, Alma St. at Burgess Dr.
  • A temporary pop up at the Pope St. island, 222 Laurel Ave.
• Redwood City: 1400 Broadway and 2600 Middlefield Road, open 24 hours a day starting mid October. Limit 24 bags.
• Atherton: Holbrook-Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave. Open daily, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. No limit.
• Unincorporated Redwood City area (outside city limits): Grant Corporation Yard, 752 Chestnut St., by reservation only, Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Some bags are already filled, in limited numbers. Limit 15 per winter.

See the full San Mateo County sandbag list for other cities and the coast.

Where can I get sandbags in Santa Clara County?

Valley Water gives free sandbags to residents of Santa Clara County. Its sites are open only from November 1 through April 15, and the dates can change with the weather.

• Palo Alto: Palo Alto Air Terminal, 1925 Embarcadero Rd.
• San Jose:
  • City Central Service Yard, 1661 Senter Road at Phelan Ave.
  • Valley Water's Winfield Warehouse, Winfield Boulevard between Blossom Hill Road and Coleman Avenue.
• Alviso: 5030 N 1st St., behind George Mayne Elementary School. Enter on Wilson Way.
• Morgan Hill: 171 W Edmundson Ave. (check the map on Valley Water's page)

Some cities in Santa Clara County run their own sites too.

Before you go:

• Some sites ask for proof that you live there.
• Supplies may be limited.
• During storms, sites may have only sand and empty bags. Bring a shovel and someone to help load.

Valley Water's sandbag page has sandbag guides in English and Spanish, and in English and Vietnamese.

How do I get flood alerts?

Sign up for your county's free alerts, and add your home address so you get warnings for your area.

• San Mateo County, SMC Alert: free. You must sign up to get alerts. Add an address, such as home, work or your child's school. It sends storm and flood alerts for your address. Sign up for SMC Alert
• Santa Clara County, AlertSCC: free, and anyone can register. Palo Alto says its AlertSCC texts come from 88911. Sign up at alertscc.com

If you live in East Palo Alto but work or go to school in Palo Alto, you can sign up for both.

How do I get my home ready before the rain?

• Clear drains. San Mateo County says to clear your roof gutters, downspouts and yard drains. Also clear dirt, leaves and trash from the storm drains in the street near your home.
• Get sandbags early, before the first storm.
• Take photos and video of your home and things now. They help if you need to show damage later.
• Think about flood insurance. San Mateo County says most people find out after a flood that their homeowner or renter policy does not cover flooding. A new flood policy usually takes 30 days to start. So buy it early, before the rainy season. Ask an insurance agent what fits a renter or an owner.
• Move things up. Keep papers, medicines and valuables off the floor, in a high place, in a sealed bag.

How do I report flooding or a blocked drain?

The city of East Palo Alto lists these lines to report creek or tidal flooding, blocked storm drains, fallen trees or other storm hazards:

• City of East Palo Alto: (650) 853-3100
• San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority: (650) 643-1450
• Valley Water: (408) 265-2600
• OneShoreline: (650) 844-8310

For a critical emergency, call 911. For a storm drain on a county maintained road in San Mateo County, you can open a storm drain request online if it is clogged or overflowing. In East Palo Alto, call the city at (650) 853-3100.

What do I do if water comes in?

If anyone is in danger, call 911.

• Leave if you are told to evacuate.
• Move to higher ground or a higher floor.
• Do not walk, swim or drive through flood water. Six inches of moving water can knock you down. One foot of moving water can sweep your car away. The water can also be dirty and hide dangerous things.
• Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.

These steps come from Ready.gov, the federal preparedness site.

When it is safe, take photos of the damage. Then see What do we do right after? for next steps and help with costs.

Who can help?

These are public offices and services. Contact them to confirm hours and supplies. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• East Palo Alto Public Works: sandbags at 150 Tara Road; flooding and storm drain reports. (650) 853-3100.
• Valley Water: sandbags for Santa Clara County residents, November 1 to April 15; flood reports. (408) 265-2600. valleywater.org
• San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority: creek flooding reports. (650) 643-1450.
• 211 Bay Area: other local help, day and night. See 211: free help finding local services.

Related questions

• Where to get help before and after a wildfire, flood or earthquake
• Where can I find a warm, safe place to sleep this winter?

You cannot stop the rain, but you can be ready for it. Get your sandbags, sign up for alerts, and look out for your neighbors.