L.A. County emergency operations chief deputy Jon O’Brien is urging residents to prepare now for record-breaking El Niño effects, after the National Weather Service said there is more than a 90% chance this year’s El Niño will be extremely strong. More than a month ago, sea surface temperatures hit record levels, and the first impacts could arrive in the next few months.
O’Brien said, “The most important step is to prepare before a warning is issued.” He also told residents, “Know whether your home or route is vulnerable to flooding or debris flows. Sign up for local emergency alerts. Make a plan to leave if directed.”
Southern California risks
Strong El Niño years have historically brought heavy rain and elevated sea levels to Southern California. The hazards likely to come with this season include flooding, landslides, sea level rise and debris flows in postfire zones, with coastal erosion possible even sooner than the heavier rain.
Emergency management officials are already readying flood-control infrastructure, building up coastal defenses and deploying extra crews and equipment. For residents, the practical step is to check whether a home or travel route sits in a flooding or debris-flow area before warnings are issued.
Alerts and forecasts
Ariel Cohen, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said, “One of the most important things that residents can do is make sure that you have multiple ways to receive forecasts, watches and warnings from credible sources.” That means not relying on a single alert method when a fast-moving storm can force a quick decision.
The MyHazard tool from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services can show risks that could affect a property and the surrounding area, along with how severe those risks could be. Residents in Southern California who use it now can compare a home, route or neighborhood against flooding, landslides, sea level rise and debris-flow exposure before the season peaks.
Where impacts hit first
Scientists cannot predict exactly where and when the strongest effects will hit, so the safest preparation is to focus on the places most exposed to water, slope movement and coastal water rise. Homes and routes in vulnerable areas should be the first to get alerts, evacuation planning and a way to leave if directed.
