Glenn County Sheriff’s Department urges residents to prepare for winter storms and flooding

Winter storm preparations should include more than watching the weather. The Glenn County Sheriff’s Department is encouraging residents to gather emergency supplies, protect their homes and learn their evacuation zones before flooding becomes a concern.

The guidance was shared on the Glenn County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.

The department recommends signing up for Glenn Emergency Alerts and keeping enough food and water for seven days during winter storms and flooding. Emergency kits should also include medications, first aid supplies, important documents, clothing, blankets, flashlights and supplies for pets.

At home, residents are encouraged to find out whether their property is in a flood zone, consider purchasing flood insurance, have sandbags ready, move belongings onto shelves and remove debris from drainage systems.

Knowing your evacuation zone is another part of preparing. According to the department, Glenn County has 165 evacuation zones, each identified by a community or fire district prefix followed by a number. Orland zones, for example, use the prefix ORL.

Residents can look up their zone through the county’s evacuation information page.

The department also reminds drivers to respect road closures and avoid flooded roads. Its message warns that just 12 inches of floodwater can carry away a small car. If water covers the road ahead, turn around and choose another route. When roads are severely flooded, the department advises staying home.

For emergency preparedness information and to sign up for alerts, visit Glenn County OES.