Corte Madera hosts a Flood Preparedness Fair on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Cove School, bringing FEMA staff, Caltrans representatives and flood-barrier vendors under one roof.
The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 330 Golden Hind Passage. It is open to anyone, not just Corte Madera residents, according to the town's event listing. Pre-registration through Eventbrite is encouraged but not required.
Residents whose homes flooded in early January have a direct stake. The Climate Prediction Center said Oct. 8 that El Niño was strengthening, with a greater than 83% chance of strong-to-very-strong conditions through January-March 2027. That pattern can contribute to elevated sea levels along the Bay shoreline, and the threat grows when king tides and atmospheric rivers hit at the same time.
Marin County chief resilience officer Nick Brubaker told the Board of Supervisors in August that El Niño could elevate sea levels and king tides are expected this fall and winter. "If they coincide with a significant atmospheric river, we could see very significant flooding impacts across the county," Brubaker said, as reported by the Marin Independent Journal.
Who will be there
FEMA Region 9 staff will help attendees check their flood zone and discuss insurance options. Caltrans Bay Area representatives will share details on the Marin 101 Adaptation Planning Feasibility Study, a two-year effort to develop a sea level rise adaptation plan for the Highway 101 corridor from central San Rafael south to the Marin City/Sausalito interchange. That study area includes the stretch near Corte Madera Creek at Lucky Drive.
Marin County Office of Emergency Management staff will help visitors sign up for AlertMarin or verify existing registrations.
Four flood-barrier vendors are listed by the town: Flowstop, AquaDam, Flood Defense Group and U.S. Flood Control Corp. Seven contractors offering floodproofing, home-raising and flood-recovery services are also listed as participants, including Solares House Movers and DRYmedic Restoration Services.
Corte Madera community development staff will walk homeowners through the permitting process and zoning rules for raising a home out of the floodplain.
Other participants include the Central Marin Police Authority, Central Marin Fire Department, the city of Larkspur and the county Department of Public Works.
Why it matters now
In early January, low-lying areas of Corte Madera experienced extensive tidal flooding driven by king tides, storm surge and strong winds, according to town records. Countywide, Marin submitted a local emergency proclamation and an initial damage estimate of $4.3 million to the state, the Marin IJ reported. The state denied the request for California Disaster Assistance Act funds, although eligible residents and businesses later qualified for federal Small Business Administration disaster loans, according to the town.
A January flood-recovery workshop at the same Cove School venue drew about 80 people.
The town has already set up a second sandbag filling station at the San Clemente Park parking lot ahead of winter weather, according to the town's Oct. 9 newsletter.
Residents with questions can contact Phoebe Goulden, the town's climate action and adaptation coordinator, at [email protected] or (628) 258-0327.
