While we Angelenos love to brag about our beautiful SoCal weather, LA does receive, on average, about 15 inches of rain every year. With October 1 being the official start of LA’s rainy season, here’s a simple checklist that you can use to make sure that you are ready for those wet days ahead:

  • See Something? Say Something!  –  Take a walk around your neighborhood. Are there leaves or trash in the gutters in your neighborhood? How do your neighborhood catch basins look? Are they free of debris and trash? If the area needs some clean-up, safely pick up trash. That way, this debris does not end up clogging the storm drains during the rain and creating street flooding. If you notice that the storm drains are clogged, contact LA Sanitation’s Customer Service Center at (800) 773-2489 so that LA Sanitation crews can remove the trash and debris.
  • Register with NotifyLA – NotifyLA is a notification system that provides important information to Los Angeles residents during times of emergencies and disasters. Residents who have registered with NotifyLA will receive important messages via e-mail, text and voicemail.
  • Check your home’s rain gutters – Now is the time to clean out your home’s rain gutters and make sure they are free of leaves and debris. You can also double check that there are no leaks in your gutters. While it might seem like a bit of work to do now, proper gutter maintenance, especially during the rainy season, can prevent property damage.
  • Don’t forget your rain barrels – Make sure that your rain barrels are ready to harvest rain. Be sure to check that there is no collected debris in your barrels since the last rain. Also make sure to double check that the downspout is properly connected and the overflow valve is open. Learn more about harvesting rain here. 
  • Is your car ready? – Check on your windshield wipers and tire treads! You want to make sure that your wipers are in good working condition and that your tire treads are at the proper depth. You also want to check that your car is not leaking any fluids. Otherwise, these leaking toxins will wash into our local rivers and creeks when it rains.
  • Don’t Lose Your City Bins – If rainfall is forecast on your trash pick-up day, please place your black, blue and green bin at least six inches from the curb, making them less likely to be carried away by stormwater flow.
  • Sandbags at Fire Departments – Properly-filled sandbags can act as a barrier to divert water around buildings. They are excellent for preventing homes from getting severe flood damage. Check with the LA City and County Fire Department regarding free sandbags to protect your home during this rainy season.

For more great tips, read about LA Sanitation’s wet weather preparations here and if you have any questions or tips you would like to share with us, e-mail us at lastormwater@lacity.org