Where to Find Sandbags, Road Closures and Emergency Updates

Local Guides

Nov 1

The short version

Grab sandbags before the rain, not during it. Boulder Creek Fire keeps two self-serve sand bunkers through winter: the Boulder Creek Golf Course (Highway 236 and E Hilton) and Redwood Elementary School (16900 Highway 9). Bring your own shovel, and take only what you need, usually around 10 to 15 bags per household.
Confirm current availability with Boulder Creek Fire at (831) 338-7222 before you drive out. Supplies and hours change through the season and can run out during a big storm.
Check road closures on Caltrans QuickMap for state highways and the county dashboard for county roads. Our Mountain Status page links both.
Look up your evacuation zone on Genasys Protect and register for the county's emergency notifications now, before the season.
In an emergency, call 911. Dial 211 for non-emergency help and referrals.

The first fat drops on Highway 9 are the wrong time to go looking for sandbags. By then the bunker is picked over and everyone else has had the same idea. Two things make a storm easier to ride out up here: sandbags, and reliable information about what's flooding or closing. Here's the Boulder Creek and San Lorenzo Valley rundown for both, with the sources you'll actually need.

Where to get sandbags

In and near Boulder Creek, self-fill sand and bags are generally available at fire stations and a few community sites. Bring your own shovel where one isn't provided, and take only what you need so there's enough to share. Households are typically asked to limit themselves to around 10 to 15 bags.

In Boulder Creek, the fire district keeps two self-serve sand bunkers through the winter season. Sand and bags are at both, and you bring your own shovel:

Boulder Creek Golf Course, at the corner of Highway 236 and E Hilton.
Redwood Elementary School, north of town at 16900 Highway 9.

Locations can change from season to season, so confirm with Boulder Creek Fire at (831) 338-7222 before you drive out.

Elsewhere in the valley:

Valley Churches United, 9400 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, provides sand and bags when a big storm is forecast.
Fall Creek Station (7272 Empire Grade), Felton Fire Station (131 Kirby Street), and Zayante Fire Station (7700 Zayante Road) are other San Lorenzo Valley options.

Availability shifts through the season, so call ahead before you drive. The county also posts a countywide list on its storm preparedness page, though the local fire district is the better source for Boulder Creek itself.

Where to check road closures

Highway 9 and the mountain roads are the whole ballgame here, so know where to look:

Caltrans QuickMap for live state-highway closures and cameras (Highways 9, 236, 17).
Santa Cruz County road closures dashboard for county roads.
Our Mountain Status page, which brings the official links together.

Don't rely on social media rumors for whether a road is passable. Use the official trackers.

Where to get emergency updates

Evacuation zones and alerts: look up your zone on Genasys Protect (formerly Zonehaven) and register for the county's emergency notifications now.
Power: the PG&E outage map and PG&E alerts. If you're on a septic pump or well, an outage plan matters too, so see our power outage plan.
Weather: the National Weather Service for forecasts, watches, and warnings.
General help and referrals: dial 211 for non-emergency assistance and resources.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get sandbags in Boulder Creek?

Boulder Creek Fire keeps two self-serve sand bunkers through the winter season: the Boulder Creek Golf Course at Highway 236 and E Hilton, and Redwood Elementary School at 16900 Highway 9, north of town. Sand and bags are at both. Bring your own shovel, and call (831) 338-7222 to confirm before you drive out.

Where do I check if Highway 9 is closed?

Use Caltrans QuickMap for state highways and the county dashboard for county roads. Our Mountain Status page links both.

How do I get emergency alerts?

Register for the county's emergency notifications and PG&E alerts, and look up your evacuation zone on Genasys Protect. Dial 211 for non-emergency help.

Availability and closures change fast, so always confirm with the official sources above. For live conditions, see Mountain Status, and for utilities, permits, and county contacts in one place, see the Residents guide. In an emergency, call 911. Last reviewed July 20, 2026.

Adrienne Gaughan