Yesterday, Councilmember Sean Elo‑Rivera posted a Spanish-language advisory titled "Cómo prepararse para la lluvia," urging District 9 residents to get ready for rain expected this weekend. The message lays out practical steps like clearing gutters and drains, staying off flooded roads and planning for travel delays, and it points people to local shelters, sandbag pickup sites and key helplines. The guidance is aimed at both neighborhood households and people experiencing homelessness who may need additional shelter during the storm.
What Elo‑Rivera shared
According to Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera's Facebook post, the advisory highlights Father Joe's Villages shelters and the Living Water Church emergency site, and notes that sandbags are available at 11 city recreation centers with a 10-bag limit per household. The post also directs residents to the city's online storm resources and lists phone numbers for urgent and non-emergency reports. Elo‑Rivera frames the guidance as a bilingual resource for District 9 ahead of the forecasted rains.
City guidance and official numbers
According to the City of San Diego, residents should call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies and contact the city's dispatch line at 619-527-7500 to report flooding or clogged storm drains. The city also recommends signing up for AlertSanDiego, charging essential electronics, assembling a three-day emergency kit and using the Get It Done app for non-emergency reports. Officials say the storm page will be updated as conditions change and that it lists the current status of sandbag distribution and shelter activations.
Shelters and capacity
Local reporting and service partners say the city's inclement-weather program can open beds at Father Joe's Villages' Joan Kroc Center and Paul Mirabile Center, along with additional space at Living Water Church of the Nazarene. As reported by KPBS, the Joan Kroc Center can sleep up to 61 adults and offers 11 extra beds for families. Paul Mirabile can take about 62 adults, and Living Water typically runs roughly 28 emergency spots.
Sandbags: where to go
Elo‑Rivera's advisory and local outlets report that free sandbags have been distributed at 11 recreation centers across the city, with a limit of 10 per household or business. A Times of San Diego roundup lists the pickup sites by neighborhood, including Allied Gardens, City Heights, Golden Hill, Pacific Beach and others, and provides addresses for each center. At the same time, the city's own storm page currently notes that Sandbag distribution will pause at City locations until further notice, so residents should check the official page before heading to any pickup location.
Need help?
For referrals to shelter, food or other services, residents can call 2-1-1 or visit 211 San Diego, which operates around the clock. For life-threatening emergencies, dial 9-1-1. To report urgent flooding or blocked drains, call 619-527-7500. Non-emergency issues can be filed through the city's Get It Done app, and residents are encouraged to monitor official channels for real-time updates.
What to watch
City crews have been clearing storm drains and monitoring infrastructure ahead of the expected rainfall, according to local reports. Residents should keep an eye on the city's storm page, local news outlets and the councilmember's updates for the latest information on shelter activations, sandbag availability and any travel advisories as the weekend storm moves in.
