Land in many parts of Sacramento County are at risk of flooding from creeks and rivers. Sacramento lies in a vast floodplain through which the Sacramento and American rivers flow. Those two rivers — as well as Arcade Creek, Ruble Creek, Elder Creek, Laguna Creek, Hagginwood Creek, the Cosumnes River, and numerous other streams and drainage canals that traverse the area can overflow their banks as a result of heavy rainfall in the valley and in the neighboring mountains. The dirt levees that were designed to confine the courses of the rivers some- times can suffer damage through erosion, leading to localized or widespread flooding with little warning.
How do local officials know a flood is coming?
Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time (ALERT), created by the National Weather Service, signals municipal agencies about possible flooding.
Sacramento’s ALERT system relays continuous and automatic reports from river level gauges and rainfall gauges. The system generates advance warning of impending high-water levels.
How you can prepare for flooding
Flood Insurance
Most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover losses that result from flooding. For that reason, supplemental flood insurance is advisable for all residents and business owners, whether or not their property lies within a FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Residents outside the SFHA may qualify for a “preferred-risk policy" (PRP) at a discounted rate.
Flood insurance is not restricted to property owners, renters can also buy it to cover the value of their possessions. Furthermore, city of Sacramento resi- dents who do not qualify for a PRP are eligible to buy flood insurance at a discounted rate because the city of Sacramento participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and its Community Rating System.
If you are a city of Sacramento resident, you can learn if your home is located within the SFHA by calling the city of Sacramento floodplain information line at 916-808-5061. Leave a message identifying yourself, your address, and the tax assessor's parcel number (APN). A city representative will reply within two days. Residents of other areas can call the Sacramento County flood zone information hotline at 916-874-7517. If you are unsure of your APN, you can call the County Assessor's Office at 916-875-0700.
For information about flood insurance, call your local insurance agent; call the National Flood Insurance Program at 1-800-427-4661 to request an agent referral; or you can visit floodsmart.gov.
