> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # County outlines El Nino storm preparations as forecasters warn of historic season - URL: https://www.smdp.com/county-outlines-el-nino-storm-preparations-as-forecasters-warn-of-historic-season/ - Published: 2026-09-04T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-04T15:59:59.000Z - Author: Matthew Hall - Tags: Environment, LA County Los Angeles County emergency officials on Tuesday detailed how the county is gearing up for the 2026-27 storm season and urged residents to prepare now, following an Aug. 11 motion by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath that called for a coordinated response to a forecast El Niño winter. "After fires, floods, and landslides, we know exactly what is at stake when heavy rain hits Los Angeles," Horvath said. "LA County crews have been doing the work year-round; now we're making sure every part of County government is ready to move together when conditions change." County crews are inspecting and maintaining dams, debris basins, channels, storm drains and pump stations, and monitoring burn areas and hillsides at risk of flooding and debris flows, officials said. The county is also preparing for evacuations and emergency shelter, and putting plans in place to assist people experiencing homelessness, older adults and others who may need extra help during severe weather. Several county departments are involved. The Chief Executive Office's Office of Emergency Management is coordinating disaster planning and public communication with local, state and federal agencies. The Department of Public Works and the county's Flood Control District operate the dams, basins, storm drains and channels meant to protect communities from floodwater, and are also handling risk modeling, sandbag distribution and land-use reviews. The Department of Beaches and Harbors is working to protect coastal infrastructure through the county's Coastal Resilience Initiative. The Sheriff's Department is coordinating evacuations, while its Sheriff-HOST teams and the Department of Homeless Services and Housing are working with service providers to protect homeless residents during storms. The Fire Department will respond to life-safety operations, and the Internal Services Department is tasked with keeping county facilities running during disruptions. Horvath's Aug. 11 motion also directed county agencies to conduct a tabletop emergency-coordination exercise with local, state and federal partners before the storm season begins, and to report back to the Board of Supervisors before Oct. 15 on the results. Departments must also report to the board in writing every 30 days through the end of the storm season on preparation efforts. Officials outlined several steps residents can take now. They urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov, learn their flood and mudflow risk if they live near a hillside, canyon or recent burn area, and make an evacuation plan. The county recommended keeping food, water, medication and other supplies on hand for up to 10 days, clearing gutters and storm drains, fixing roof leaks and obtaining sandbags before storms arrive. Officials also noted that standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage and that flood insurance can take at least 30 days to take effect. Residents with concerns about mud or debris flow risk can call LA County Public Works at 1-800-933-0930, and people seeking help for someone experiencing homelessness can visit homeless.lacounty.gov/get-help/. During storms, officials said residents should never drive or walk through flooded roads, stay away from downed power lines, watch for rising water, mud and debris, move to higher ground if they see signs of a debris flow, follow evacuation orders and check on neighbors, older adults and others who may need assistance. Horvath will host a virtual town hall for county residents at 6 p.m. Sept. 28, where residents can ask county experts about El Niño risks and preparations. More information is available at lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov, and general preparedness resources are posted at ready.lacounty.gov. The preparations come as federal forecasters project one of the strongest El Niño events on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center said in its Aug. 13 diagnostic discussion that there is a greater than 90% chance of a "very strong" El Niño this fall and winter, and a 69% chance the October-December season will exceed every El Niño on record dating to 1950\. The center's Aug. 20 winter outlook favors above-normal precipitation for coastal California from December through April, with the wettest conditions expected January through March. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and The Nature Conservancy, said at an Aug. 27 briefing that a wetter-than-average winter is the clearest signal, with peak impacts likely from December through March. He said coastal flooding tied to elevated sea levels coinciding with king tides and storm waves is "almost guaranteed," and noted that erosion has already forced closures along Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu and the Amtrak line between Los Angeles and San Diego. Forecasters are especially concerned about burn scars left by the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires and the December 2024 Franklin fire, which left behind hydrophobic soils prone to shedding rainfall rather than absorbing it. U.S. Geological Survey modeling found a 60% to 80% chance of debris flows in Palisades-area canyons, including Temescal and Tuna canyons, under a design storm scenario. California State Geologist Jeremy Lancaster has said as little as a fifth of an inch of rain in 15 minutes could trigger a debris flow in the Eaton burn scar. The National Weather Service says burn areas remain at heightened risk of flash flooding and debris flows for at least two years after a fire, putting the 2025 burn scars squarely within their highest-risk window this winter. The outlook follows a rapid swing in ocean conditions: a weak La Niña early this year gave way to a strengthening El Niño by summer, with July sea-surface temperatures well above average in the equatorial Pacific. NOAA's next ENSO update is scheduled for Sept. 10. Separately, NOAA's final 2026 Atlantic hurricane outlook calls for a below-normal season, as El Niño increases disruptive wind shear, while its Eastern Pacific outlook calls for an above-average season that could raise storm and moisture risks for Mexico, Hawaii and far Southern California.