Free sandbag sand opens in Sonoma Tuesday, with a county winter town hall Wednesday

By The Downspout · Posted Oct 19, 2026 · 3 min read

The City of Sonoma, in Sonoma County, California, opens its free, self-service sandbag sand station at Depot Park on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, earlier than usual. Sonoma County Emergency Management holds an online Winter Ready meeting on Wednesday, October 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Where it is and what it does

The station gives out free sand. You fill your own sandbags there, so you have them ready before rain. It is for City of Sonoma residents. Empty bags are at City Hall, not at the park.

It is at Depot Park, 270 First St. W., in the City of Sonoma, in Sonoma County, California. It is a seasonal, self-service station. See it on a map: Depot Park, Sonoma.

What happened

The City announced on October 16, 2026 that free sand will be available starting Tuesday, October 20. The City is opening the station earlier this year to give residents more time to prepare before storms arrive.

The City gave this reason. Outlooks point to a possible strong El Niño this winter. El Niño is a climate pattern that can influence winter weather. The City says El Niño does not guarantee flooding or severe storms. The City is taking the chance of an active winter seriously.

Free empty sandbags are at City Hall, during normal business hours. You can take up to 10, while supplies last.

The county's emergency office, Sonoma County Emergency Management, is also holding an online meeting called Sonoma Winter Ready 2026. It is on Zoom on Wednesday, October 21, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Spanish interpretation will be available.

The program covers winter preparedness, evacuation and road safety, hazards and ways to reduce them, and steps households and communities can take before an emergency. The City says residents throughout the county may find it useful. You must sign up first. The Zoom link is emailed to you 24 hours before the meeting.

The National Weather Service forecast for Santa Rosa shows a 50 percent chance of showers on Wednesday. That would be less than a tenth of an inch of rain. The forecast was updated October 19. Forecasts change, so check the latest one.

What it means for you

If you live in the City of Sonoma, fill sandbags at Depot Park before rain is in the forecast. Bring your own shovel. The City especially encourages people whose property has flooded before.
If you need empty bags, pick them up at City Hall during business hours. Take up to 10.
If you live outside the City of Sonoma, this station is not for you. Ask your own city or the county emergency office what is offered where you live.
Keep leaves out of storm drains. Leaves and yard debris can slow drainage when heavy rain comes. Collect leaves instead of blowing them into the street. Clear your own gutters. Clear leaves by a storm drain near your property only if it is safe. Never do it when water is moving fast. Read why only rain belongs in the storm drain.
Sign up for the meeting at bit.ly/SonomaWinterReady2026 if you want the county's winter preparedness information.
If your water comes from a well, power outages are one of the storm effects the City lists. Read what to do when the power goes out.

More on what a strong El Niño could mean for water here: our El Niño article.

What happens next

The station opens Tuesday, October 20. The City has not said when it will close. The meeting is Wednesday, October 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The City says it will keep sharing winter preparedness information and weather updates as conditions change.

Where this came from

A City of Sonoma news post, “Planning Ahead for Winter Weather in Sonoma,” dated October 16, 2026. The county's event page for Sonoma Winter Ready 2026. The National Weather Service forecast for Santa Rosa, updated October 19, 2026.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-19. Rules and programs change. If something here is out of date, the source above wins. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.