Overview
When disaster hits your home, knowing who to call and where to turn saves precious time. This local guide pulls together the resources South Bay homeowners may need before, during, and after a water, fire, or storm emergency - alongside the immediate steps to take. (Contact details below were checked against official sources during implementation; verify again during future content reviews.)
First: immediate emergency steps
- Life-threatening emergency or active fire? Call 911.
- Gas leak or electrical hazard? Leave and call your utility (PG&E) - call 911 first if there is immediate danger, then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
- Water flooding the home? Shut off your main water valve, ensure electrical safety, and call a restoration company. We answer 24/7: (408) 639-5349.
Utility & shut-off resources
- PG&E (gas & electric) - report outages, gas leaks, downed lines: PG&E emergency reporting: call 911 first for immediate danger, then 1-800-743-5000; 24-hour Customer Service: 1-877-660-6789; outage information: 1-800-743-5002.
- Your local water provider (e.g., San Jose Water, Great Oaks Water, or your city's utility) - for water service issues and main shut-off questions: San Jose Water: 408-279-7900; San Jose Municipal Water 24-hour water emergency or leak: 408-535-3500; Great Oaks Water office: 408-227-9540 and after-hours emergency: 408-879-8246; check your bill if another utility serves your address.
- Know the location of your home's main water shut-off before an emergency - it's the most useful 30 seconds you'll spend.
Flood & storm resources
- Santa Clara Valley Water (Valley Water) - flood information, creek levels, and flood-protection resources for the county: Valley Water flood-ready resources: https://www.valleywater.org/flooding-safety/flood-ready; surface water data: https://alert.valleywater.org; creek blockage hotline: 408-630-2378.
- City emergency management (San Jose Office of Emergency Management and your specific city) - alerts, sandbag locations during storms, and emergency updates: City of San Jose emergency management: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/emergency-management and storm preparedness: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/emergency-management/be-prepared/storm-preparedness; emergency management phone: 408-794-7055; also check your own city official emergency page.
- County alerts - sign up for AlertSCC (Santa Clara County's emergency alert system) or your county's equivalent: AlertSCC: https://oem.santaclaracounty.gov/sign-up-for-alerts and https://www.alertscc.org.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center - check your property's flood-zone status: FEMA Flood Map Service Center address search: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search; FEMA flood maps: https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps; FloodSmart: https://www.floodsmart.gov; map help: 1-877-FEMA-MAP or 1-877-336-2627.
Recovery & assistance resources
- 211 Bay Area - dial 211 for local health and human-services help, including disaster resources.
- American Red Cross (Bay Area) - emergency shelter and disaster assistance: American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/northern-california-coastal.html; Silicon Valley Chapter: 408-577-1000; disaster help: https://www.redcross.org/get-help.html; shelter finder: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html.
- Your insurance company - open claims promptly; have your policy number ready. (See how to file a water damage claim and insurance claims help.)
What to do first, by emergency type
- Water/flood: shut off water, ensure electrical safety, document, call us - see what to do when the rainy season floods your home.
- Fire: ensure safety, wait for fire-department clearance, contact your insurer - see what to do immediately after a house fire.
- Sewage backup: keep everyone away, don't DIY, call professionals - see sewage backup: health risks & what NOT to do.
- Storm: safety first, then the after-storm damage checklist.
Where US Creative Restoration fits in
For the cleanup and restoration itself - water extraction and drying, fire and smoke cleanup, mold remediation, and sewage cleanup - we're your local, IICRC-certified team across San Jose and 17 South Bay & Peninsula cities (see all service areas). We're available 24/7, on-site fast, and we work directly with your insurance so you're not navigating recovery alone.
Keep this handy
Bookmark this page and save (408) 639-5349 in your phone now - the best time to know your resources is before you need them.