Storm watch: How to prepare your homes as Hilary approaches

Are you prepared for the storm?

The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District says it's crucial to get your homes ready before the rainfall.

"You want to make sure your gutters are clear. You want to make sure that you know anything outdoors that you want to have protected you have back indoors and safe," said Jason Uhley, General Manager with the county flood control.

If you used sandbags, he advises to not put them too close to not put sandbags against your house. Allow at least 8 feet to maneuver between the sandbag barrier and the structure. 

"If you happen to have drainage courses that run through your property, make sure they're cleared and ready to accept water... if you have a property where you maybe have had to use sandbags in the past to protect yourself, you know, have the sandbags on hand," Uhley added.

Residents are already getting a head start on prepping their homes.

“Just prepare for the worst because, you know, the world is crazy and you know, you just gotta plan ahead and that’s really all you can do," said Palm Desert resident Andrew Cashion.

Cashion's first stop was Fire Station 81 off of Washington Street. It’s where her and several other residents had their shovels out to get their sandbags ready in case of any potential flooding over the weekend.

He filled about 50 bags to bring to his home in Palm Desert.

“You know, if it overflows there’s nowhere for the water to go. There’s no drainage in the deck and it’ll creep up to the house if we have an inch of rain. So if we get significant rain, it’s definitely going to climb up you know," Cashion said.

He’s protecting his doorways by piling the bags up and creating a small barricade around it.

For Cashion, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Like one inch of rain will of water will approach the door so it’ll a little interesting so I’m not taking any chances," he said.

All CalFire stations provide empty sandbags. You can find the list here.