San Francisco is preparing for El Niño. Where does water go at your property?

San Francisco is moving ahead with winter storm preparations. On October 23, the city announced a local emergency declaration to speed up its purchasing and coordination ahead of potential El Niño storms and coastal flooding. The announcement also asked businesses to prepare early. City announcement

For a property manager, that brings up a practical question: when water reaches your building, where does it go?

NOAA’s October 8 update says El Niño is strengthening. Its seasonal outlook describes probabilities, not a rainfall total for your address or a schedule of individual storms. Use that outlook to start preparing, then follow local forecasts and warnings as weather approaches. NOAA ENSO discussion · NOAA winter outlook

Start with the low spots

Before rain arrives, review places where water has collected before. Look at ground-level entries, loading areas, garage ramps and other low points from safe, accessible areas. Old photos and tenant reports can help identify locations that deserve a closer look.

Write down what you know and what still needs checking. “Water collected beside the loading entrance last winter” is a useful observation. Assuming the cause was a blocked drain can send the work in the wrong direction.

San Francisco Public Works specifically recommends identifying low-elevation areas that could flood. Storm preparation guidance

Separate surface debris from a drainage problem

Leaves and litter over a grate are visible. A restriction below it may not be.

Have qualified, authorized personnel review private-property drainage and arrange appropriate maintenance before the weather turns. For public catch basins, use the city’s reporting process when a problem needs attention.

SFPUC’s drain-clearing guidance is clear: do not lift grates, reach underneath them, enter ponding water or try to clear a drain during a storm. Surface cleanup has limits. In San Francisco, a completely clogged drain with water ponding in the street or sidewalk belongs in a 311 report. Drain-clearing safety guidance

Look at what sits in the water’s path

Review stored materials and inventory in vulnerable ground-level or below-grade areas. Decide what can be relocated safely before bad weather, without blocking exits, walkways or access to equipment.

For properties near the waterfront, include coastal flooding in that conversation. The city warns that elevated coastal water levels can cause flooding during high tides even without rain. City preparedness guidance

Know when to stop

Do not send staff into floodwater to investigate a drain or retrieve supplies. Follow the property’s emergency plan and official instructions. Report non-life-threatening public drainage issues through the appropriate local agency; call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

A useful pre-storm review ends with specific locations, clear responsibilities and safe next steps. You do not need an exact seasonal rainfall number to get that work started.

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