County Issues Emergency Proclamation Ahead of 'Potentially Historic' El Niño Season

The County of San Diego proclaimed a local emergency Tuesday in preparation for what officials describe as a potentially historic El Niño season expected to bring repeated heavy storms and significant flooding risks across the region.

The proclamation allows County crews and departments to respond faster to storm impacts including flooding, landslides, debris flows and damage to critical infrastructure. It aligns with Gov. Gavin Newsom's Sept. 21 statewide emergency proclamation mobilizing state resources ahead of anticipated severe weather.

"Early action saves lives and property. This emergency declaration strengthens our ability to respond quickly, communicate clearly and make sure residents have the resources they need to stay safe throughout El Niño conditions," said County Chief Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton.

According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific continue to strengthen, with more than a 90% chance of a strong event this fall and winter. Warmer-than-average ocean temperatures are expected to fuel steady, widespread rainfall with potential for heavy rain, urban flooding, mudslides, coastal erosion, stormwater system strain, road closures and power outages.

The County has launched an El Niño 2026 Information Hub on AlertSanDiego.org where residents can sign up for emergency alerts, find free sand and sandbag pickup locations at County and CAL FIRE stations, track National Weather Service forecasts, and use the "Tell Us Now" app to report non-emergency storm issues on County-maintained infrastructure.

Supervisors Back Proclamation, Cite 2024 Floods

All five members of the Board of Supervisors issued statements backing the emergency declaration, with several referencing the January 2024 floods that devastated neighborhoods including Shelltown, Southcrest and Mountain View.

"District 1 communities know firsthand how quickly heavy rain can turn into a devastating emergency," said Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. "The January 2024 floods showed us the harsh reality of severe storm events, leaving deep scars on neighborhoods."

Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, whose District 4 includes parts of central San Diego, said: "I will never forget the devastation I saw after the January 2024 floods and the conversations I had with people whose lives were turned upside down."

Supervisor Jim Desmond struck a preemptive tone: "I'd rather we do it early than explain later why we didn't."

Supervisors Joel Anderson and Terra Lawson-Remer also urged residents to prepare now. "The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens," Lawson-Remer said.

The County's action comes as the City of San Diego separately launched a six-week outreach campaign in which Economic Development Department staff are visiting approximately 1,500 businesses in flood-prone communities — including Barrio Logan, Encanto, Logan Heights, Southcrest, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach — to help owners assess risks and prepare operations for El Niño conditions.