Bay Area flooding: Where to pick up free sandbags in preparation for the first major storm of 2023

Just days after a record-breaking storm sent the Bay Area into a frenzy with massive urban flooding, it looks like more high rainfall totals could hit the region this week. To prepare residents for potential flooding, most Bay Area cities offer free sandbags, both unfilled and prefilled, throughout the week. Here you can pick up your free bags to protect your home or business from flooding.

Keep in mind that many sites require proof of residency, and each site has its own requirements, baggage limits, and procedures.

province of Alameda

Several towns in Alameda County offer free sandbag pick-ups for local residents.

Berkley: Corporation Yard, 1326 Allston Way

Fremont: Three locations have unfilled bags, residents must bring their own shovel.

Hayward: Hayward Animal Shelter, Barnes Court 16

Livermore: Zone 7 Water Agency, 100 North Canyons Parkway

Newark: Newark Maintenance Yard, 37440 Filbert St.

Oakland: Municipal Service Center, 7101 Edgewater Drive

Nice to meet you: Operational Services Department, Buschweg 3333

San Leandro: Public works yard, 14200 Chapman Road (Residents must bring their own shovel)

Alameda County also has four sites for residents in unincorporated areas to bring up to four sandbags free of charge.

Dublin: 4825 Gleason Drive

Hayward: Turnerhof 951

Castro Valley: 20336 San Miguel Ave. and 19780 Cull Canyon Road

Contra Costa County

Agreement: 1455 Gasoline Alley (Filled yourself, residents must bring a shovel)

Richmond: West County Detention Center, 5555 Giant Highway

Walnut Creek: Walnut Creek has five sandbagshowever, none of them provide pre-filled bags and require residents to bring their own shovels.

More information on sandbag stations in Contra Costa County can be found at place sandbags.

province of Santa Clara

The Santa Clara Valley Water District offers five sandbag distribution locations that offer free filled bags 24 hours a day from November through April. The five locations are:

Alviso: 5030 N First St., located behind George Mayne Elementary School, entrance on Wilson Way behind the school

Palo Alto: 1925 Embarcadero Road, next to Palo Alto Air Terminal

San Jose: City Central Service Yard, 1661 Senter Road on Phelan Avenue, San Jose

San Jose: Santa Clara Valley Water District Winfield Warehouse, Winfield Boulevard between Blossom Hill Road and Coleman Avenue, San Jose

morgan hill: El Toro Fire Station, 18300 Old Monterey Road

20 other locations in the Santa Clara Valley Water District offer unfilled sandbags with sand that the residents can shovel into themselves. The agency recommends people bring their own shovels to those locations, as well as help hauling the heavy bags. Some sites require proof of residency.

NOTE:
The City of Palo Alto announced on Twitter that all locations in Palo Alto will be empty of sandbags as of 10:11 AM Monday morning. The city says it hopes to have supplies replenished by noon.

Province of San Mateo