State Declares Emergency Ahead of a Strong El Niño Winter: How to Prepare
Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a statewide state of emergency to get ahead of a developing El Niño that forecasters say could become one of the strongest on record. The proclamation lets California prepare now for heavy rain, flooding, mountain snow, landslides and debris flows, before winter storms arrive.
State agencies are staging sandbags, pumps and other flood-fighting equipment, and Caltrans is positioning traffic-control, road-closure and snow-removal equipment along the highways most at risk. The California National Guard is ready to support flood response, search and rescue and logistics if needed, and state agencies are fast-tracking permits for flood-protection work. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is also expanding its preparedness messaging on severe weather, alerts, evacuations and power outages.
El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter or any particular storm, but it does raise the chance of strong ones. Now is the time to get ready.
How to Prepare
- Know your flood risk. Find out whether your home, farm or workplace is in a flood-prone area or downslope from land recently burned by wildfire, where heavy rain can bring flooding, debris flows and mudslides.
- Stay informed. Watch the forecast, sign up for emergency alerts from your city or county, and follow instructions from local emergency officials. Conditions can change quickly.
- Have an evacuation plan. Know where you would go and how you would get there on short notice. Keep an emergency kit with important documents, medications and supplies for pets and livestock.
- Never drive through floodwater. Water can be deeper and faster than it looks, and the road underneath may be damaged or washed out. Turn around and take another route.
Source: Escalon Times, “Emergency declaration sees mobilization of state resources”
