Start by checking where water reaches your property, how it moves past the building, and where it can drain. Clear accessible private drains before rain, address known defects, and plan for conditions beyond what the property can handle. Sandbags and pumps can help in suitable conditions, but neither replaces a working outlet or a safe way to leave.
Two local floods show why those details matter: the January 2016 storms during the 2015–16 El Niño winter, and January 22, 2024. They offer useful lessons for homes, rentals, HOAs, and commercial properties across San Diego County.
January 2016 showed why drainage condition matters
During the January 5–7, 2016 storms, flooding submerged vehicles in Ocean Beach and Mission Valley. Flooding of the San Diego River also closed sections of Fashion Valley Road. These were real access problems, even for people whose buildings stayed dry. NWS Southern California weather history and USGS account of the Fashion Valley closures.
A more specific lesson came from Roselle Street near Sorrento Creek. A City report describes flooding on January 7 that reached businesses and overtook vehicles. Inspectors later found accumulated sediment and vegetation at a channel transition, along with damaged concrete in another section that reduced capacity. Hydraulic analysis indicated that removing the buildup would reduce overtopping risk. City Sorrento Creek maintenance report.
The same report documents crews clearing approximately 535 linear feet of channel and replacing approximately 397 linear feet of concrete. That is a concrete example of addressing identified restrictions and damaged infrastructure. It is not proof that the repaired channel could contain every future storm. City report on completed work.
The property lesson: look beyond the grate. A clean inlet does little good if the pipe, outlet, or downstream channel is restricted. Recurring ponding deserves an investigation of the whole drainage path, not another round of surface cleanup alone.
January 2024 showed the limits of drainage capacity
On January 22, 2024, San Diego recorded 2.73 inches of rain in 24 hours. Flooding hit communities along Chollas Creek and other areas, and first responders performed more than 200 water rescues. City review of the January 2024 flood.
In Spring Valley, the County reported that existing drainage infrastructure was not designed to carry flows of that magnitude. Nine County-maintained drainage facilities required emergency response. That matters when someone asks whether cleaning every drain would prevent another flood: clearing a restriction and increasing a system’s capacity are different jobs. County 2024 flood hazard mitigation progress report.
The property lesson: prepare for the possibility that the street or receiving drain fills up. A small yard drain or portable pump should not be the only protection for people, vehicles, or important belongings.
What the follow up work tells us
After the January 2024 flood, City crews cleared culverts and channels along about four miles of Chollas Creek and repaired damaged concrete channels before the February 1 rain. The City lifted its evacuation warning on February 2. This is a documented example of getting maintenance and repairs finished ahead of the next storm. The announcement does not quantify how many properties the work protected, so it cannot establish that clearing alone prevented a repeat disaster. City February 2 storm update.
Taken together, the examples support a practical approach: remove restrictions, repair damaged drainage, and keep an emergency plan for water that exceeds the system’s capacity. A successful maintenance visit should leave a documented result—what was cleared, what was checked, and what still needs work.
Start with the drainage you can assess safely
Before rain, check accessible private drain openings for leaves, soil, and loose debris. Have gutters and downspouts checked safely, including where they discharge. Note recurring low spots, water marks, and places where runoff reaches a garage, door, or wall.
Keep public and private responsibilities clear. Ownership and accepted drainage easements affect who maintains a facility; a drain’s location alone does not settle that question. Report suspected public drainage problems to the responsible agency. Within the City of San Diego, use Get It Done. County explanation of public and private drainage.
Do not enter a culvert or lift a manhole cover to relieve flooding. Stay out of moving or potentially energized water. Follow road closures and evacuation instructions; call 911 for an immediate threat to life. City storm safety guidance.
Where to get sand and what bags can actually do
The distinction between bags and sand is important when a storm is approaching:
- City of San Diego: the City currently lists free empty bags at 11 recreation centers, with a limit of 10 per household or business while supplies last. You supply the sand. The City directs residents to hardware or home improvement stores and says not to take sand from beaches or bays. Check the City sandbag locations before leaving.
- Elsewhere in San Diego County: the AlertSanDiego sandbag directory identifies locations offering bags, sand, or both. Check eligibility and availability, call ahead, and bring a shovel where you need to fill bags yourself.
Properly placed sandbags can redirect water, but they do not create a watertight seal. Before placing them, work out where the redirected water will go and how seepage or rain collecting behind the barrier will be handled. Follow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sandbag guidance.
For a garage or low doorway, placement needs to fit the actual water path and leave safe access. Our sandbag and flood barrier overview explains what a site assessment should consider. Temporary protection cannot guarantee that water stays out.
Give the pump a discharge plan and a power plan
A pump needs a suitable water source, safe electrical conditions, enough capacity for the job, and an appropriate discharge destination. Do not assume that sending water to the curb, a storm drain, or a neighboring property is acceptable. Dewatering discharges can be subject to additional requirements. City stormwater and dewatering guidance.
Check equipment and backup arrangements before the storm. If a pump depends on power that may fail, have a plan for leaving safely rather than trying to improvise in rising water. Do not assume rooftop solar will power the pump during an outage; have the installer confirm what the system can operate when disconnected from the grid. SDG&E explanation of backup isolation equipment.
Never operate electrical equipment while standing in water. Portable fuel-powered generators belong outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents, never inside a garage. Never connect a generator to a household wall outlet. CDC flooded-home safety and SDG&E generator safety.
Pumped out does not mean dry
Removing standing water does not establish that insulation, flooring, or wall cavities are dry or that contaminated materials are safe. EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24–48 hours when possible to limit mold growth. Safe entry, contamination assessment, and the right cleanup or restoration help come first. EPA flooded-home cleanup guidance.
Keep photos and a record of where water entered, taken only from a safe location. Those observations help define source repairs and the next inspection. Our water removal and restoration guide explains the separate steps before rebuilding.
Get the property checked before rain arrives
If your property flooded before, bring the old photos and describe the first place water appeared. A useful evaluation should identify visible drainage restrictions, vulnerable openings, repair priorities, and conditions that need further investigation.
All World Construction LLC offers a $250 Site Evaluation + Written Bid Package, credited toward the work if approved within 30 days. Emergency response is scoped and priced separately. Call 619-912-0486 to request an evaluation and confirm availability.
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