diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index ac7f3c6..915ec56 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   "service": "dev",
   "forwardPorts": ["docs:8000", "kibana:5601"],
   "workspaceFolder": "/home/caltrans/src",
+  "postStartCommand": ["/bin/bash", "bin/reset_db.sh"],
   "postAttachCommand": ["/bin/bash", ".devcontainer/postAttach.sh"],
   "customizations": {
     "vscode": {
diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index ca0603f..6bdc79f 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
+# Django superuser account for backend admin access
+DJANGO_SUPERUSER_USERNAME=pems-admin
+DJANGO_SUPERUSER_EMAIL=pems-admin@compiler.la
+DJANGO_SUPERUSER_PASSWORD=superuser12345!
+
 # Django storage
+DJANGO_DB_RESET=true
 DJANGO_STORAGE_DIR=.
 DJANGO_DB_FILE=django.db
 
diff --git a/bin/init.sh b/bin/init.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5b9f41b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/init.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -eux
+
+# run database migrations
+
+python manage.py migrate
+
+# collect static files
+
+python manage.py collectstatic --no-input
diff --git a/bin/reset_db.sh b/bin/reset_db.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..43f168e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/reset_db.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -ex
+
+# whether to reset database file, defaults to true
+DB_RESET="${DJANGO_DB_RESET:-true}"
+
+if [[ $DB_RESET = true ]]; then
+    # construct the path to the database file from environment or default
+    DB_DIR="${DJANGO_STORAGE_DIR:-.}"
+    DB_FILE="${DJANGO_DB_FILE:-django.db}"
+    DB_PATH="${DB_DIR}/${DB_FILE}"
+
+    rm -f "${DB_PATH}"
+
+    # run database migrations and other initialization
+    bin/init.sh
+
+    # create a superuser account for backend admin access
+    # set username, email, and password using environment variables
+    # DJANGO_SUPERUSER_USERNAME, DJANGO_SUPERUSER_EMAIL, and DJANGO_SUPERUSER_PASSWORD
+    python manage.py createsuperuser --no-input
+else
+    echo "DB_RESET is false, skipping"
+fi
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index eb8c5ab..da61384 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
       context: .
       dockerfile: .devcontainer/Dockerfile
     image: caltrans/pems:main
+    env_file: .env
     volumes:
       - ./:/home/caltrans/src
 
diff --git a/pems/settings.py b/pems/settings.py
index 59b94c9..d034edf 100644
--- a/pems/settings.py
+++ b/pems/settings.py
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ def _filter_empty(ls):
 
 STATIC_URL = "static/"
 
+STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, "static")
+
 # Default primary key field type
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.1/ref/settings/#default-auto-field