With the forecast calling for a possible one-two punch of heavy rains and strong winds in the Puget Sound region through the weekend, Bellevue residents are urged to be prepared for severe weather.

The first storm is expected late Wednesday through Thursday, with heavy rains and wind. The second storm is forecast for Saturday with stronger winds. City crews will be on stand-by to respond if needed, but residents can help in a variety of ways. Here are some tips from the city of Bellevue:

• Be prepared: Information is available at Emergency Preparedness. Preparedness tips are also available at Take Winter by Storm.

• Before the rain, please clear storm drains of leaves and debris. Most street flooding is caused by clogged storm drain grates.

• Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies. Call Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-7840 if your home or office is in danger of flooding.

• Call Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773 to report a power outage; you can also report it online and check PSE’s outage map.

• When driving, if the power is out and traffic signals are not working, treat the intersection as a four-way stop. If a street is flooded, do not attempt to drive through standing water.

For updated information, check Extreme Weather Response and the city’s Twitter page.