When rain is in the forecast, we want to help you keep your home safe and dry. An excellent way to do that is by using sandbags.

**Sandbags are available at Fire Station 2, 24787 S. Sossaman Road**

Please bring your own shovel and only fill the bags half full.

Sandbags can be useful in redirecting storm water and debris flows away from your home. In order to ensure that sandbags are properly filled and maintained:

• Fill sandbags half full. Use sand if readily available, otherwise use soil.
• Fold the top of the sandbag down, and rest the bag on its folded tope. Take care in stacking the sandbags.
• Limit placement to three layers unless a building is used as a backing or sandbags are placed in a pyramid.
• Tamp each sandbag into place, completing each layer before you begin a new layer. Clear a path between buildings for debris flow.
• Lay a plastic sheet in between the building and the bags to control the flow and prevent water from seeping into sliding glass doors.

There are limits to what sandbags can do, so remember:

• Sandbags will not seal out water.
• Sandbags deteriorate when exposed to continued wetting and drying for several months.
• If bags are placed too early, they may not be effective when needed.
• Sandbags are for small water flow protection—up to two feet.

The Town’s Public Works Department is prepared to respond to storm events with downed trees. Depending on the severity of the storm, crews respond during storm events to clear roadway debris, prioritizing hazards in major roadways.

• To report a hazard on a major roadway, please use the Public Works 24/7 line at 480-358-3131. 

If there are downed trees in your community, please contact your HOA. If the trees are on your property, please see the following tips:

• Self-haul to the transfer station: Take up to 1,000 lbs. of your green waste to the transfer station at the discounted rate of $10. No special preparations such as cutting, bundling or bagging your green waste is required. Visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/SelfHaul for more information. 

• Schedule a bulk pick-up: Dispose of up to six cubic yards of green waste through bulk collection. Remember the 3B's when using bulk; Bagged, Bundled and Boxed. Tree logs, limbs and cuttings must be four feet or less with a diameter of one foot or less and securely bundled using twine, string or duct tape and left curbside. Visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/BulkTrash to learn more. 

• Shut Your Lids: All the materials in your curbside trash and recycling carts should fit inside the carts with the lids fully closed. Please do not overfill your carts as they may not be serviced. 

SRP provides an outage map with impacted areas and estimated restoration times. The outage map will have the most updated information. 

SRP offers a Medical Preparedness Program that is an outage preparation and notification program for customers requiring the use of electricity to operate medical life support equipment.   

For details about the program & to apply, call SRP Customer Service at (602) 236-8888 and a Customer Service Representative will help them.  If they are calling from outside Maricopa County, they can call (800) 258-4SRP (4777).  Here is the link to the program on our webpage https://srpnet.com/prices/medical.aspx. 

Downed Power Lines 

• If you encounter a downed power line, stay at least 100 feet away from it. 
• If the power line has fallen on your car while you are in it, do not touch anything metal in the car. Stay inside until professional help arrives. 

SRP provides an outage map for customers with estimated restoration times, visit SRPnet.com for more information.  

To report a downed power line, call SRP at 602.236.8888

Dust storms can create wind gusts that exceed 40 mph and dramatically reduce visibility. 

• Move indoors if possible and stay away from the windows.
• Avoid travel, if possible!
• If driving, pull off the road and get as far to the right as possible  - pull aside, stay alive!
  • Turn off the car, headlights and emergency lights
  • Set the parking brake and keep your foot off the brake pedal

More info from ADOT: PullAsideStayAlive.org

Flash floods can be extremely dangerous. Most flash flood deaths occur in vehicles; moving water one to two feet deep will carry away most vehicles. 

• Travel should be avoided whenever possible during flash floods. 
• If travel is inevitable, do not drive into flooded roadways or go around barricades. 
• Do not play, or allow children to play in flood waters. Not only can flood water pose potential health risks, six inches of fast moving water can knock over an adult.  

Sandbags are available at Fire Station 2, 24787 S. Sossaman Road. Residents are reminded to bring their own shovel and only fill the bags half full (see the sandbag section for tips on building a sandbag barrier). 

**Sandbags are available at Fire Station 2, 24787 S. Sossaman Road**

Remember to turn around, don't drown when roadways are flooded.  

• Take advantage of the rainfall by learning how to capture that extra water through rainwater harvesting. Visit wateruseitwisely.com/rainwater-harvesting to learn more. 

• Turn off your irrigation controller for a cycle or two after it rains. To get regular reminders right to your phone, text WHENTOWATER to 33222 to receive a text with a link to the month's watering guidelines on the first of the month.