Flood Protection and Planning

Floods, big or small, can have devastating effects on your home and your family. They are one of the top natural disasters in the United States. Whether you live close to rivers and creeks or far from a body of water, everyone is at risk - wherever it can rain it can flood. Nearly 25 percent of flood insurance claims come from moderate - to low-risk areas.

Flood Preparedness

Learn how to prepare for a flood, stay safe during a flood, and protect your health when you return home after a flood. To protect you and your family make sure to register for County of Fresno Emergency Alerts. Also, have an evacuation plan and designated meeting place outside the evacuation zone in case of flooding. Don't forget to make a plan for your pets as well. There are many seasonal streams located around the County. Make sure you know if there is a stream on your property and that there are no obstructions within it that could back up the water and cause flooding.

When confronted with a flooded area Turn Around, Don't Drown(PDF, 6MB). Just 6 inches of water can make you lose control of your car (even SUVs) and 18-24 inches of moving water can force your vehicle off the road.

Protect your property and belongings by having flood insurance (many homeowners insurances do not include flood damage). Store valuables above flood level and in a waterproof container. Renters: Make sure to get "contents only" flood insurance. The homeowners flood insurance does not include your belongings.

Flood Preparation and Safety(PDF, 356KB)

(PDF, 356KB)Emergency Preparedness and Response

Ready.gov Flood Information

Disaster Preparedness Kit (Brochure(PDF, 237KB))

So You Live Behind a Levee(PDF, 2MB)

Know Your Risk of Flooding(PDF, 130KB) - County of Fresno Brochure

Find Out If You Live In A Special Flood Hazard Area

There are flood zones scattered through the County of Fresno. Here are some ways to find out if your property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

• Report Illegal Dumping into waterways

• Report Illegal Dumping into storm drains and ponding basins - within Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD)

• Keep seasonal streams clear of debris and obstructions. FMFCD has many seasonal streams to the west and north of the City of Clovis to transport water out of the mountains and into one of the flood control reservoirs and away from the main metropolitan area of Clovis and Fresno. Click here to see if you have one on your property using the FMFCD GIS system. You can also fill out the Flood Hazard Information Request Form(PDF, 197KB) and email to developmentengineering@fresnocountyca.gov.

• Do not dump anything into storms drains or culverts - "Only Rain in the Storm Drains"

• Keep trash out of the rivers, streams, and lakes.

• Protect our wildlife areas. If you bring it into the area, then it must come back with you. Do not leave wrappers, containers, trash, or even food behind. It is bad for the environment and the animals that live there. Protect their home, just like you protect yours.

Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District

San Joaquin River Conservancy

Kings River Conservation District

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Federal Priorities Streamgages (FPS)

FPS are monitoring stations that track the amount of water in streams and rivers across the Nation and that address one or more of the following Federal information needs:

• forecasting floods, droughts and other streamflow
• supporting water-quality assessments of major rivers and estuaries
• supporting interstate and international compacts, court decrees, treaties and other border water agreements
• tracking streamflow in major rivers and contributions from key basins to the next downstream basin, estuary, ocean or the Great Lakes
• describing long-term trends in streamflow at sentinel sites that typify major ecoregions and river basins, including trends related to population, land use, water use and climate 

1. San Joaquin River near Mendota  
2. San Joaquin River near Friant  
3. Big Creek near Huntington Lake  
4. South Fork of San Joaquin River near Florence Lake
5. North Fork of Kings River near Cliff Camp  
6. Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga

Still have questions? Contact Us

Fresno County Department of Public Works and Planning 
Development Engineering Section