As a historic El Niño storm season develops, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency, mobilizing state resources ahead of potential winter storms and other impacts.
The state says the emerging El Niño event has already broken records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history.
The governor’s office says the emergency proclamation streamlines measures to help California prepare for this historic event and puts the state in a stronger position before winter weather intensifies. It directs state agencies to begin protecting vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stage emergency supplies and help local partners reduce flood, landslide and coastal risks.
In addition, Newsom also proclaimed states of emergency to support recovery efforts for three severe weather events that previously caused significant damage in Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Mendocino and Santa Barbara counties, as well as a major sewage spill that caused major damage in Lake County.
The governor’s office says federal forecasters note that El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event this fall and winter and a 75% chance it could reach historic strength. The Pacific is unusually warm, and that warmth can shift storm tracks and load the atmosphere with more energy over the months ahead.
For California, that can mean repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves and coastal flooding, especially when storms hit during very high tides.
Among the actions ordered, the emergency proclamation directs state agencies to lead the state’s flood-risk-reduction efforts, stage flood-fighting supplies — such as sandbags and pumps — and preposition other critical equipment.
“We are not waiting for this season’s storms to be on our doorstep,” says Caroline Thomas Jacobs, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “Cal OES is leading California’s statewide efforts by bringing state and local partners together, conducting advance planning efforts and identifying potential needs before impacts occur. By planning early and coordinating resources ahead of El Niño, we are working to ensure communities and first responders have the personnel, equipment and support they need to prepare for severe weather, respond quickly when conditions change and protect lives and property across California.”
