Property Protection Measures

There are several ways to prepare your property before a flood to protect it from flood hazards. The following examples may or may not be economically feasible or practical for every situation:

• Provide adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes.
• Elevate or relocate electrical panel boxes, furnaces, water heaters, and appliances to an area that is less likely to be flooded.
• Move essential items and valuables to the upper floors of your home if flooding is likely.
• Keep materials such as sandbags, plywood, and plastic sheeting handy for emergency waterproofing. Sandbags can be obtained at the City Corporation yard, located at 1265 North Milpitas Boulevard (408) 586-2600, and the Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd, Hall Memorial Park. For other sandbag locations, call SCVWD at (408) 265-2600, or visit SCVWD Web Site.
• Anchor the structure to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
• Elevate homes so that the lowest floor is a minimum of 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

For more information about how to protect your property from floods or retrofitting techniques, call the City Engineering Division at (408) 586-3327 or visit the Milpitas Public Library, 160 North Main Street, (408) 262-1171