Ahead of a potentially historic El Niño season in California, state emergency officials sounded the alarm Monday that heavy rain and strong winds could create dangerous and deadly conditions for Southern California communities, especially for people on the road.
As Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Monday to mobilize agencies in preparation for intense storms and severe weather, the Office of Emergency Services (OES) warned that Southern California faces a higher likelihood of wetter-than-average precipitation.
While El Niño does not guarantee any specific storm outcome, it can increase rainfall because of the large amount of moisture carried by atmospheric rivers. During El Niño years, more storms can be directed toward the southern part of the state, leading to elevated sea levels and larger storm surges.
For a region where commuters rely heavily on cars, one of the biggest risks will be on the road, according to Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs.
“It takes only a small amount of water to disable a car, and as little as 12 inches of moving water can carry many vehicles away,” Jacobs said. “Storms are among the deadliest disasters we face here in California, and one of the greatest dangers is still people underestimating the power of water.”
If any amount of water covers a road, drivers should turn around to avoid being swept away, officials urged.
As heavy rain and strong winds can also bring down trees, block roads and knock out power, the governor’s emergency declaration allows state agencies to prepare in advance. Preparations will include flood-risk reduction efforts as agencies equip themselves with flood-fighting supplies such as sandbags and pumps and pre-position other critical equipment.
“We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes,” the governor said in a statement.
The California National Guard will also assist with emergency response, Newsom said.
The declaration also expands multilingual public outreach efforts about preparedness for severe weather, flooding, emergency alerts, evacuation readiness and power outages.
Another high-risk area is Southern California’s coastal communities because sea levels typically rise during El Niño years. Because California’s wet season often coincides with the winter holidays, those along the coast should be especially vigilant, according to Laura Hollander of the state Department of Water Resources.
“We have already seen recent damaging swells along the California coast,” Hollander said. “I would also like to note that king tides can exacerbate these conditions, notably the king tides slated for November and December.”
Officials said Californians should prepare early.
It was not immediately clear how much the state will spend on El Niño preparations, according to Cal OES.
