Westminster Issues November Emergency Preparedness Bulletin: Sandbags Capped at 12 Per Resident for the Rainy Season, Thanksgiving Safety Tips Included
The City of Westminster, a city in Orange County, California, has issued its November 2026 emergency preparedness bulletin, covering winter rain and flood readiness, emergency alerts, Thanksgiving safety, winter home preparation and city hazard planning.
On flooding, the bulletin notes that heavy rainfall heading into the winter rainy season can overwhelm storm drains and flood streets and intersections. Anyone approaching a flooded road, path or walkway should follow the rule 'Turn Around, Don't Drown': never walk or drive through floodwater, as little as 12 inches of moving water can carry away a small vehicle. Standard homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover flood damage, and flood insurance typically carries a 30-day waiting period, so residents considering coverage should plan ahead and confirm details with their insurance agent; the city also points residents to California Department of Insurance flood resources and information on El Niño 2026-27 conditions in Orange County.
Residents can obtain sandbags at the Westminster Municipal Corporation Yard, 14381 Olive St., Westminster, CA 92683, phone (714) 895-2876, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., during inclement weather. Sandbags are limited to 12 per resident, and residents should bring identification showing proof of residency and call ahead on availability. The city also offers a 2026 Storm Preparedness Guide.
For alerts, the bulletin encourages sign-ups for the MyShake earthquake early-warning app, Southern California Edison outage and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) notifications through the SCE Preference Center, and the city's own email updates on news, events, road closures and public safety alerts; additional resources are at ReadyOC.
For Thanksgiving, the city advises never leaving cooking food unattended, keeping a three-foot kid-free zone around stoves and hot appliances, using timers, testing smoke alarms, keeping a fire extinguisher nearby and never using water on a grease fire. A turkey should be deep-fried only outdoors on a flat, non-flammable surface, fully thawed and dry; cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F; thawed in the refrigerator, cold water or microwave, never on the counter; and leftovers refrigerated within two hours.
For winter home readiness, residents should test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, have heating equipment inspected before heavy use, seal drafts and insulate exposed pipes, and keep heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, never using an oven to heat the home. The city is also updating its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and strongly encourages residents to complete a brief survey on the city website before it closes. City Hall is at 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Westminster市小西贡（Little Saigon）市名标志牌。图片：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 授权，经自托管。 / The City of Westminster's Little Saigon sign. Photo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA, self-hosted.
