San Bernardino County launched a new webpage to help residents prepare for potential El Niño storms this winter. The Office of Emergency Services (OES) announced the page on Thursday, Oct. 29.

The El Niño and Storm Preparedness page covers flooding, debris flows, sandbag availability, emergency alerts and evacuation planning. El Niño conditions could bring heavy rain, flash flooding, strong winds, power outages and road closures across the county, the page states.

Free sandbags in Rialto

Rialto's Public Works Department stocks sand and ready-to-fill sandbags at three locations when rain is in the forecast, according to the city's sandbag information page:

  • City Maintenance Yard, 246 S. Willow Ave. (south driveway)
  • Fire Station 203, 1550 N. Ayala Drive (across from Jerry Eaves Park)
  • Fire Station 204, 3288 N. Alder Ave. (in front of Alec Fergusson Park)

The supplies are free. The limit is 10 sandbags per household or business.

San Bernardino County Fire also offers free sandbags at county fire stations but warns that stations keep only a limited supply. The county fire district urges homeowners not to depend on that supply and to purchase sandbags early from home improvement stores.

Emergency alerts and county preparations

The county's new page walks residents through signing up for the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS) and downloading the Ready SB County app. County departments are inspecting drainage systems, monitoring National Weather Service forecasts and identifying priority areas through mapping, the page states.

The county said departments are prepared to pre-position equipment, materials and personnel in areas that may be impacted as conditions warrant.

The preparedness page warns drivers never to enter flooded roads, which can be deeper and more dangerous than they appear. Before storms hit, the county recommends clearing gutters, reviewing evacuation routes, charging phones and preparing several days' worth of food, water and medications.

The webpage will continue to be updated as new information becomes available, the county said. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.