Powerful winds to hit San Mateo County coast; Pacifica residents bracing for extreme weather
Conditions are expected to change quickly along the coast - from Half Moon Bay up to Bodega Bay - with powerful winds heading our way.
In Pacifica, people are expecting the weather to get pretty wild-- between the wind, the rain, and the waves.
"It's going to be pretty wild," said Branden Jenkins, owner of Chit Chat Café. "Hopefully our power stays on."
Jenkins doesn't have a generator. He's not doing much to get ready.
He says the pier kind of helps protect his business.
But Jenkins says his neighbors on Beach Boulevard in Pacifica are storm ready.
"These guys put the sandbags up," said Jenkins.
"Down here, it's terrible when it starts to flood. So, I know there's a lot of sandbags out. A lot of people preparing for this," said Carey Bell, a Pacifica resident.
A few miles away, Jennifer Prescott of Pacifica is preparing to host 35 guests for dinner on Christmas Eve. But she's also getting ready for the incoming storm.
"We have to take down all the blow-up toys and everything that's hanging. Take the umbrellas down. batten the hatches," said Prescott. "It's a bummer. It's the holidays. It's the middle of winter."
Prescott and others know the drill.
There's a firehouse and sandbag station right down the street from here.
"Hunker down, get some sandbags and prepare," said Prescott.
PG&E says it's all hands-on deck. A lot of extra people are working through the Christmas holiday to deal with major power outages and such.
"This is going to be an extremely windy weather event. The wind really impacts our equipment. We can really see things like trees or branches or other debris flying through the area and hitting our lines or see rain soaking the soil and uprooting trees and falling into our lines," said Tamar Sarkissian, a PGE spokesperson.
Cal Fire says they're also concerned with trees and branches falling on homes, busy roadways, or people.
"This is a really great excuse to stay home, hunker down with people you care about, relax at home. You are going to be safer at home than to be out with all the trees falling," said Cecile Juliette, a Cal Fire CZU spokesperson.
PG&E, firefighters remind you to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages because of this exceptional storm that's going to hit us.
Have backup batteries, a flashlight and be sure to charge up all your devices; You might also want to have a full tank of gas. And, if you have lawn furniture or holiday decorations, consider taking them inside or securing them.
San Mateo County officials say residents in unincorporated areas may pick up pre-made sandbags (limit 15) free of charge at the locations below. In addition to pre-made sandbags, the county is giving away materials (loose sand and sandbags) on a 24/7 basis for individuals to fill as many bags as they need on their own, according to its website.
Princeton Corp Yard-Half Moon Bay
203 Cornell Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 728-7993
Available: Pre-made sandbags (limited quantity) and bulk sand & sandbags.
Grant Corp Yard-Redwood City
752 Chestnut Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 363-4103
Available: Pre-made sandbags (limited quantity) and bulk sand & sandbags.
Note: Reservation is required to pick up pre-made sandbags at Grant Corporation Yard.
La Honda Corp Yard-La Honda
59 Entrada Way
La Honda, CA 94020
(650) 747-0341
Available: Pre-made sandbags (limited quantity) and bulk sand & sandbags.
Pescadero High School-Pescadero
350 Butano Cutoff Road
Pescadero, CA 94060
Available: Bulk sand & sandbags.
For more information, click here.
