Free sandbags return Sunday as Valley Water braces for a strong El Niño winter
Three San Jose sites open Nov. 1. The water district has declared an emergency to speed up creek work.
Free, filled sandbags will be available at three San Jose sites from Sunday, Nov. 1, as Valley Water prepares for what forecasters expect to be a very strong El Niño winter, the agency says. Valley Water is Santa Clara County's water and flood-control district.
El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that often brings heavier winter rain to California. A Valley Water memo cites federal forecasters giving a better than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño and a 69% chance it reaches historic strength.
The district has declared an emergency, which lets it hire crews and buy supplies without the usual bidding. Its board must renew it by a four-fifths vote at each regular meeting.
A staff briefing lists 13 flood-protection projects worth $169.1 million this budget year.
Where to get sandbags
- City Central Service Yard, 1661 Senter Road at Phelan Avenue.
- Valley Water Winfield Warehouse, Winfield Boulevard between Blossom Hill Road and Coleman Avenue.
- Alviso, 5030 N. First St., behind George Mayne Elementary School, entrance on Wilson Way.
Valley Water's sites stay open through April 15. The agency says to bring help for loading heavy bags, and that during storms sites may have only sand and empty bags.
Source: Valley Water sandbag sites; Valley Water El Niño emergency memo, Oct. 7; winter preparedness briefing