Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency for California in anticipation of this winter’s El Niño-fueled storms, the latest sign of growing concern about the chance for more flooding, coastal erosion and strong waves in the coming months.
The intensifying El Niño climate pattern could help fuel strong winter storms that bring several rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, and high waves, causing flooding, landslides, debris flows, coastal damage and power outages, the governor’s office warned Monday. The emergency declaration will help coordinate and mobilize supplies and mitigation work across the state, including flood mitigation and snow preparation.
The possibility of this extreme weather “warrants early, coordinated, and targeted preparedness actions to protect Californians, critical infrastructure, agricultural lands, natural resources, and the State’s economy,” the state’s emergency proclamation read.
Forecasts show there’s a 75% chance this El Niño will be stronger than any other since 1950, and already the event has fueled storms that caused serious damage in Southern California, with multiple local jurisdictions declaring local emergencies.
“California is strongest when we look out for one another,” Newsom said in a prepared statement announcing the emergency declaration. “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.”
Along with the statewide proclamation, the governor proclaimed emergencies in multiple counties that were hit hard from the recent storms, including Santa Barbara County.
Earlier this month, a tropical storm fueled heavy rains and strong surf across the Southland, damaging homes from south Orange County to Malibu, causing sink holes, severe erosion and flooding.
Laguna Beach, Dana Point and Carlsbad last week declared local states of emergency after assessing the damage from the storm. Orange County officials also announced that they were activating their emergency operations center, which is required when two cities in the county proclaim a local emergency.
The storms destroyed sections of a seawall and historic boardwalk in Long Beach, shuttered a long-vulnerable stretch of coastal railway in San Clemente, and further threatened Carlsbad Boulevard, also known as Old Highway 101, in Carlsbad.
Staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II and deputy editor Joseph Serna contributed to this report.
