Los Angeles County officials are urging residents to prepare for strong Santa Ana winds and elevated fire danger Saturday, even as cities, schools and county agencies across the region gear up for a potentially severe El Niño storm season.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for much of Los Angeles County from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, according to a joint release Friday from the county Fire Department, Sheriff's Department and Office of Emergency Management. Very low humidity and strong winds could produce rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior if a fire starts, officials said. Gusts of 30 to 45 mph are forecast in mountain areas, with gusty winds expected across many valleys and mountain communities.
"With strong winds capable of driving rapid wildfire growth, we urge residents to be prepared," Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said. He encouraged residents to review their Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan, practice evacuation routes, check on neighbors who may need help evacuating and call 911 immediately if they see smoke or fire.
The Fire Department has added staff and pre-positioned ground and aerial resources across the county, while the Office of Emergency Management's 24-hour Watch Center is monitoring conditions and coordinating with response partners.
Drivers who use Topanga Canyon Boulevard should plan ahead. Caltrans, working with county Public Works and the Sheriff's Department, will restrict access between Mulholland Highway and Pacific Coast Highway in the unincorporated community of Topanga in the Santa Monica Mountains. Only residents will be allowed through from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Residents should also prepare for utility-initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs and unplanned outages caused by wind damage, which can disrupt communications, traffic signals and electrically powered medical equipment, officials said.
Sheriff Robert Luna said his department is increasing monitoring, coordinating with law enforcement partners throughout the region and staffing strategically.
"We urge residents to remain vigilant, stay informed, have an emergency plan, and follow the guidance of public safety officials," Luna said.
Kevin McGowan, director of the county Office of Emergency Management, said county agencies take Red Flag forecasts seriously.
"Our responsibility is to coordinate the County's response and provide actionable information," McGowan said. "Residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors by preparing now, staying informed, and being ready to evacuate."
Officials advised residents to find their evacuation zone at protect.genasys.com or through the Genasys mobile app, identify more than one route out of their neighborhood and keep vehicles fueled or charged. Those in high-risk fire zones should have water, daily medication and important personal items packed and ready.
An evacuation warning means residents should prepare to leave, and people who need extra time, including those evacuating large animals, should go when a warning is issued. An evacuation order means residents should leave immediately. Officials said anyone who feels unsafe should not wait for an official alert.
Residents are urged to register for Alert LA County and their city's notification system, enable Wireless Emergency Alerts, keep a battery-powered radio on hand and check lacounty.gov/emergency for updates. Officials also asked drivers not to park on narrow roads, sharp curves, hairpin turns and key intersections, where vehicles can block emergency responders and trap residents during an evacuation.
Preparing for El Niño
The fire warning arrives as local governments shift their focus to winter storms.
The Santa Monica City Council on Oct. 27 adopted a resolution proclaiming a local emergency for the 2026-2027 El Niño season, allowing the city to quickly buy and deploy equipment, supplies and services to address storm impacts. Those could include urban flooding, high surf and beach erosion, falling trees and power outages, slope instability near burn-affected areas, and bluff erosion sending mud and debris onto Pacific Coast Highway.
"While we can't know exactly what this winter will bring, we can take steps now to prepare for the potential impacts of El Niño and help keep our community safe," Mayor Caroline Torosis said.
City crews are building sand berms on the beach and along storm drain outflows, repairing roofs and drains at city facilities and cleaning more than 600 catch basins. The city has also bought additional sandbags, launched a Storm Event website in five languages and temporarily relaxed shelter access criteria for people experiencing homelessness during storms.
The Santa Monica Fire Department will host "Sandbag Saturdays" from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 7, 14 and 21 at Clover Park, with the first event falling on the same day as the Red Flag Warning. Residents can also pick up free empty sandbags at any city fire station and fill them at the Clover Park sand bin. The city encourages residents to sign up for SMAlerts, its multilingual notification system.
Malibu has also declared a local emergency and maintains an informational page for residents at https://www.malibucity.org/ElNino.
Countywide, the Los Angeles County Fire Department will offer up to 25 free pre-filled sandbags per resident at 11 locations from Nov. 7 through Nov. 28.
"Sandbags are highly effective, simple tools to help redirect flooding, mud, and debris flow away from your property," Marrone said.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is also preparing for storms through its SMMUSD READY program, following Gov. Gavin Newsom's statewide emergency proclamation and the city of Malibu's local emergency declaration.
The district has completed significant roof work at Will Rogers Elementary School, John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School. Generators are in place at Malibu schools, and K-rails installed at Webster Elementary School after the Franklin Fire remain as a precaution. The district keeps at least a three-day supply of breakfast and lunch meals and shelf-stable food for power outages, and it will monitor Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu canyon roads.
"Our priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff," Superintendent Antonio Shelton said.
Carey Upton, the district's chief operating officer, said the focus is on "preparing for the conditions we may face along the coast." Families should monitor the district website and ParentSquare for closure announcements.
Damage already done
Extreme weather has already taken a toll on the region's coastline. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang recently toured beachfront properties in Long Beach that were severely damaged or destroyed by high tides and powerful swells from Tropical Storm Rachel. El Niño conditions have affected coastal properties in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to the Assessor's Office.
In Long Beach, damage ranging from flooding to sinkholes led to evacuations, and more than a dozen compromised properties were red-tagged.
Property owners with significant damage may qualify for tax relief through the Assessor's Misfortune or Calamity reassessment program. Owners must file form ADS-820 within 12 months of the damage, which must total at least $10,000. Approved reductions remain in effect until the property is repaired or rebuilt, sold, or a tax base transfer occurs.
For preparedness information, residents can visit ready.lacounty.gov or call 211.