Our first wet and cold weather event of the season is upon us. The National Weather Service is forecasting cold temperatures and rain from Tuesday November 26th – Sunday December 1st.   While this is the first event of the season, there will be more in the near future, so now is the time to be prepared (see below for how to be safe and prepared during inclement weather).

Most of the San Francisco Bay Area can say they've felt some recent seismic activity throughout the region. With a M3.5 in Colma last week and a M4.5 in Pleasant Hill Sunday night, these tremors may seem eerily close to the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake this Thursday, October 17th. But we think these earthquakes are simply a good reminder to build upon your earthquake preparedness. The good news is you are more prepared than you think and getting prepared together is more fun than doing so alone.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Heat advisory for San Francisco with high temperatures reaching mid to high 80s and the heat is expected to linger into tomorrow, if not Thursday.  Hot temperatures over the course of several days increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for older adults, children, people who are sick as well as pets. Remember to stay cool, hydrated and frequently check on your neighbors with health concerns.

The planned PG&E public safety power shutoffs that may occur during this wildfire season are intended to protect lives and property of our neighbors vulnerable to wildfire. Because San Francisco shares the same power grid with our east and south bay neighbors who are at risk to wildfire, a power shutoff to these communities would mean San Francisco could be without power, too.

Wildfire season is upon us and with it comes the potential for bad air quality. The Association of Bay Area Health Officers (ABAHO), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and cities and counties across the Bay agree that preparedness is the best defense against poor air quality.

Here are some tips on how you can prepare your home or building:

Hey San Francisco, tonight is National Night Out—an annual community party hosted by your local San Francisco Police Station to meet your neighbors, learn public safety tips, and have fun!

Yesterday much of Manhattan was without power causing traffic lights, subway trains and elevators to stop.  New Yorkers were encouraged to avoid driving while NYFD responded to numerous transformer fires and rescued people trapped in elevators and subway cars.  But New Yorkers handled the inconvenience in stride, from helping to direct traffic to impromptu Broadway Theater performances on the street, and within a few hours power was restored.

An Air Quality Advisory has been issued for the entire Bay Region  due to the Butte County Fire. The current air quality in San Francisco is PURPLE/UNHEALTHY FOR EVERYONE.

From Red levels (unhealthy) up to Purple (very unhealthy) and even at Maroon (hazardous) levels, people should remain indoors with windows closed, and continue to remain indoors until air quality improves. Air quality also is dangerous for pets, especially birds and smoosh face breeds. Keep walks short and windows closed.

Here at the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (SFDEM) we’ve been planning for and talking about El Nino for a long time. We wanted to offer you a one-stop-shop of all things El Nino to help you feel more prepared and to assist you in sharing, educating, and empowering those around you with the same intel. We know this is a lot of information, but we hope that it answers some of your questions regarding what may come to be. Above all SFDEM encourages you to do five things: