Sacramento prepares for next big storm. Here’s where you can fill sandbags, find shelter

The city of Sacramento is responding to the latest incoming winter storm, offering help with sandbags, extending operation of weather-respite centers and filling hundreds of requests for tree-removal services.

On Saturday and Sunday, the city said, it will reopen sandbag-filling locations at the South and North area corporation yards from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The sand and the bags are available to Sacramento residents for free, according to the city. A maximum of 10 sandbags are available per vehicle.

Staff will be there to assist residents with filling the bags, the city said. Residents will have to provide their own transportation.

The South Area yard is at 5730 24th St. The North Area yard is at 918 Del Paso Road.

Weather-respite centers

Weather-respite operations at the Outreach and Engagement Center and the North Fifth Street Shelter lobby are extended through Jan. 12, according to the city.

The Outreach and Engagement Center at 3615 Auburn Blvd. is open 24 hours and accepts walk-ups, the city said. The center has a capacity of 50 people and welcomes families as well as pets.

According to the city, the North Fifth Shelter lobby at 700 N. Fifth St. operates 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. It can shelter up to 20 people and also accepts walk-ups. This location is for adults only, no pets.

Sacramento Regional Transit light rail and buses are available for free to go to and from any weather-respite location, according to the city. The SacRT light rail station at Watt/I-80 station connects to bus Route 1, which has a stop near the Outreach and Engagement Center. Riders will need to inform SacRT staff that they are going to/leaving the warming center.

The schedule for SacRT shuttle services from City Hall to the Outreach and Engagement Center and the North Fifth Street Shelter is as follows. The pick-up location at City Hall is on 10th Street between I and H streets..

• Friday, Jan. 6 — 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 7 — None.
• Sunday, Jan. 8 — None.
• Monday, Jan. 9 — at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 10 — at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 11 — at 6 p.m.

Sacramento Regional Transit allows animals on leash and in cages, the city said. Personal belongings are limited to items people can carry themselves unassisted on one trip.

Tree removal service

The city of Sacramento said that since New Year’s Eve it had received nearly 700 requests involving downed or uprooted trees, fallen tree limbs and debris blocking roadways from earlier storms.

Around 200 of the requests have been resolved or are in the process of being resolved, Director of Public Works Ryan Moore said.

“All available City crews and contractors are working to respond, with life safety and mobility as top priorities,” Moore said. “We are working around the clock to address the most pressing issues. With more storms arriving soon, we expect the number of requests to increase in the coming days.”

Professional sawyers from trained Urban Forestry crews are required to manage the large, downed trees, according to the city. City staff who are not trained to use the necessary equipment are assisting in clearing, moving and transporting debris.

Cranes often are required in situations where trees have fallen on buildings, the city said. There are a limited amount of cranes currently available in the region, Moore said, and demand is outweighing supply, creating a backlog.

If power lines are involved, city crews must wait for approval from the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District to ensure that tree removal does not create an electrical emergency, the city said.

The city said the Department of Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment (YPCE) has closed the Old City Cemetery until further notice because of fallen trees.

YPCE staff are encouraging people to avoid trees at all city parks due to the potential for additional trees or branches to fall and may close some parks in the coming days because of storm-related debris, according to the city.

The city said people are encouraged to call 311 to report storm-related issues. Power outages should be reported to the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District by calling 888-456-7683.

This story was originally published January 7, 2023 at 2:24 PM.