Mill Valley Issues Storm Advisory: Get Ready for Possible Flooding

The following is an announcement from the City of Mill Valley:

Weather Outlook: National Weather Service forecasters are predicting another set of storm systems impacting Mill Valley and the surrounding Bay Area starting Thursday night and continuing through the holiday weekend and possibly beyond. Thursday afternoon and evening, they predicted rain with some wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Friday may see a break between storms, with some sunny skies, and then the rain will begin again Friday night continuing through Saturday.

Forecasters predict that the strongest rain will be late on Sunday through Tuesday. During that time urban locations could see 1 to 2 inches of rain with coastal ranges possibly exceeding 5 inches locally.

Flooding: High tides over 5.8 feet for the upcoming days are listed below. If your home or business is in a low-lying area with a history of flooding, please be aware of the high tides. If you will be travelling during these times, please avoid roadways likely to flood, such as lower Miller Avenue and near the Manzanita Park and Ride/Shoreline Hwy/Hwy 101.

• Sat, January 16 at 4:45 am - 5.8 ft
• Sun, January 17 at 5:37 am - 5.9 ft
• Mon, January 18 at 6:31 am - 6.1 ft
• Tues, January 19 at 7:25 am - 6.3 ft

The City of Mill Valley strongly encourages businesses and residents to prepare for the upcoming rain, wind and potential flooding and power outages. The following lists potential issues and resources available to help you prepare for the many issues winter storms may present.

Road Conditions and Traffic - Street flooding is commonly seen during heavy rain events in low-lying coastal areas.

• Heavy rain and high winds can lead to road closures and traffic back-ups due to flooding, downed trees or landslides. Check www.mvtraffic.org for traffic and roadway conditions and alerts before your trip.
• If a power outage causes flashing traffic lights, treat the intersection as a four-way stop and proceed with caution.
• When driving in the rain, use extra caution and turn your headlights on. California law requires that headlights must be turned on whenever your windshield wipers are in operation regardless of the time of day.
• Please obey the speed limits and follow other traffic at a safe distance.
• Do not drive through standing water. Only 6 inches of water can be enough to stall your car and cause irreparable damage to the engine.

Flooding - If your home or business is in a low-lying area with a history of flooding, please take the time now to prepare for the possibility of flooding:

• Residents are urged to check local storm drains and gutters to make sure they are cleared before the upcoming rain.
• Move vehicles to higher ground, especially in flood-prone areas.
• Move items stored in low-lying areas, such as basements or other areas that have flooded in the past.
• Learn more about sandbags, flood maps, and other preparations here.
• If a blocked catch basin or storm drain is causing flooding please call (415) 472-0911. If it is an emergency call 911.

Power Outages

Downed Trees and Limbs

• If the tree is within the City limits of Mill Valley and is on City property, or if the tree is blocking a public right of way or roadway please call (415) 472-0911. If it is an emergency call 911.
• If the tree is on private property or has fallen onto private property contact the property owner.
• If the tree is touching electrical wires contact PG&E at 800-743-500 or non-emergency dispatch at 415-442-4526.

Stay Informed

In an emergency, communication is crucial to the safety of all residents and businesses. Please bookmark or sign up for the communications methods listed below:

• We will provide updates at the City of Mill Valley website. Go to www.cityofmillvalley.org for the latest information.
• Sign up for Alert Marin - Enter your telephone number and email address and this County-wide program will give you a call, text, or email if there is an emergency.
• Sign up for MVConnect an eNewsletter sent directly to your inbox.
• Sign up for eNotifications. Receive notifications in your inbox. Select “Emergency Notifications” and “Traffic Conditions and Road Closures” for information.
• Sign up for Nextdoor- a private, neighborhood-based social network. The City can issue emergency alerts that will go directly to your email inbox.
• Go to www.mvtraffic.org for the latest traffic map and Tweets from the Mill Valley Police Department.
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter:
  o Mill Valley Police Department
  o City of Mill Valley