Foster City residents can begin filling sandbags this week to prepare for winter rains, according to officials.

The water level of the Foster City lagoon will be lowered from summer to winter levels on Nov. 18, and it’s a good time to start thinking about the rainy season, the city said. The lagoon is lowered until mid-March to prepare for potential winter storms.

A sandbag station opened Monday at the City Hall parking lot at 610 Foster City Boulevard. Sand, bags and shovels are provided and residents and business owners can fill the bags themselves. Each person gets a maximum of 10 bags, according to the city.

The sandbag station will continue to be available during the winter storm season.

The city advises residents to prepare for the rainy season by clearing rain gutters, testing and restocking emergency supply kits, reviewing preparedness tips and visiting the city’s Public Works website for more information.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.