Volunteers help San Francisco prepare for the next storm through Adopt-A-Drain program

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco continues to scrub up and is now bracing for an additional storm. It is all been just a little difficult however metropolis volunteers have stepped as much as reply a name for assist.

This is the problem. Clearing all these storm drains — 25,000 of them — has at all times been a problem for the San Francisco Public Utilities Fee. That is why they’ve relied on volunteers by way of the Undertake-A-Drain program.

“We’ve 2,500 volunteers who’ve already volunteered to tackle about 3,800 of these totally different drains,” outlined Dennis Herrera who heads the SFPUC.

That company needs extra residents to go surfing to make the leap and decide to adopting a kind of drains.

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“We’ve David Lang right here who’s our group associate who has adopted eight drains on his very personal to take accountability for,” stated Herrera throughout a press convention earlier within the week.

We spoke to Lang and requested him why he volunteers?

“With that many drains, that is the least we will do. In case you’re strolling the streets, are you able to not decide up trash? You’ll be able to’t at all times anticipate another person to do it,” stated Lang.

He makes certain one specific drain is free and clear in time for neighborhood college students to cross the intersection.

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He has a reputation for essentially the most troublesome drain he adopted.

“I name it MoFo,” he stated, laughing whereas explaining why it’s so troublesome.

“The silt that you could’t see coming from development websites that go into the drain, it might be clay from pure soil and it hardens,” he stated.

He confirmed us a protracted stick he used to clear the drains.

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“I take advantage of a protracted stick and it is like a Pogo stick. It helps clear it and plunge it,” he advised us.

The SFPUC needs extra individuals to volunteer.

We requested the proprietor of a neighborhood restaurant to make the dedication.

Tim Hayman had by no means heard of this system however advised us he already clears the storm drain on the nook.

For these residents and companies who’re nonetheless susceptible to flooding, the Division of Public Works introduced it has acquired extra sand luggage. Up to now 13,000 have been handed out.

“We’re additionally now making ready our staffing plans for the weekend and the week forward, as a result of we predict extra rain. So final week and all this week, this Wednesday and subsequent week, we’re going to have prolonged crews available,” stated Rachel Gordon, spokesperson for the Division of Public Works.

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