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Preparing for El Niño

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For life-threatening emergencies call 9-1-1 from a land line or (510) 777-3211 from a cell phone.

Like communities around the world, Oakland is preparing for the impacts of El Niño and the weather conditions it can bring.

Events

Community Organized Relief Effort, opens a new window (CORE) will be joining us for a two-part Preparedness Planning Workshop designed to help you and your community become more resilient and ready for El Niño, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
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What is El Niño?

To better understand El Niño, it is important to first understand the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO is a climate driver on Earth and its cycles of warm and cool waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific alter where ocean heat is released into the atmosphere. These alterations in where ocean heat is released influences atmospheric circulation, temperatures, precipitation and other weather events. These changes can affect agriculture, wildfires and marine fisheries around the globe.

El Niño is the warm phase of ENSO that can occur on average every two to seven years, and typically lasts nine to 12 months. El Niño has the largest impact on the Northern Hemisphere during the winter. And could bring milder weather to the northern parts of the United States and wetter conditions across the southern United States.

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What can you do to prepare?

Being prepared through small actions today can help keep you and your family safe during an emergency. Please take some time to visit Listos California, a statewide program that provides in-language information and tools to help Californians prepare for and recover from disasters.

VISIT LISTOS CALIFORNIA

Prepping Your Home for Extreme Weather

Oakland Public Works is helping residents prepare by offering emergency sandbags and sheeting. Public Works will provide emergency sandbags (up to 10) and plastic sheeting (up to 20 feet) to Oakland residents and business owners while supplies last, to help divert runoff away from buildings and to help prevent flooding and mudslides.

Bring your ID to prove residency. Be prepared to fill your own if needed.

Municipal Service Center

7101 Edgewater Drive
Oakland, CA 94621

  • Monday - Friday
    8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday
    8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Drainage Services Facility

5921 Shepherd Canyon Road
Oakland, CA, 94611

  • Monday - Friday
    7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

How to Report for El Niño Related-Problems

Storm-related Emergency

For storm-related emergency issues on public property and in the public right-of-way (such as flooding, mudslides, landslides, and manholes overflowing onto streets and sidewalks), contact OAK 311. Dial 311 from any phone within Oakland or call 510-615-5566.

Water Service Emergencies

For water service emergencies (e.g., no water service, broken hydrants, broken water main pipes), contact EBMUD: 1-866-403-2683.

Downed Power Lines or Smell Natural Gas

For downed power lines or if you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and then call 9-1-1 or PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

Power Outage Alerts

For power outage alerts go online to pge.com/outagealerts.

Non-emergencies

For non-emergencies, OAK 311 can also be contacted in other ways:

  • Email: OAK311@oaklandca.gov
  • Online: www.oaklandca.gov/311
  • Mobile App: Seeclickfix or OAK 311, available in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Androids