California officials prepare for historic El Niño flood risks

California officials are intensifying flood preparedness efforts in anticipation of a potentially historic El Niño winter. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to facilitate the mobilization of resources. The California Department of Water Resources has prepositioned 4.4 million sandbags and other flood-fighting materials across eight state warehouses.

In Marin County, state-supplied containers containing wood stakes, pallets of sandbags, and plastic sheeting have begun arriving to supplement local inventories. Local crews are also dredging Novato Creek and reinforcing levees to mitigate risks from heavy rain and high tides.

In San Diego County, officials have launched an online informational hub to provide residents with weather updates, emergency alert sign-ups, and information on obtaining essential supplies. Forecasters warn that this El Niño cycle could bring intense rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding, with some models suggesting it could be the strongest in the roughly 150-year observational record.