The San Diego City Council Tuesday voted to declare a state of emergency in the city ahead of potentially severe weather associated with the coming weather associated with El Ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n
The 6-0 Tuesday vote comes just days after Mayor Todd Gloria proclaimed the local emergency, which itself follows emergency declarations made by California and the County of San Diego.<\/p>\n
By proclaiming a local emergency, the city is now able to “use emergency authorities available under state and local law and supports the city’s ability to seek state and federal assistance,” according to a statement from Gloria’s office.<\/p>\n
“Being ready for severe weather means doing the work now, before storms arrive,” Gloria said. “That’s what we’ve been doing for months: clearing storm channels, strengthening our infrastructure, coordinating emergency plans and helping San Diegans prepare.”<\/p>\n
The proclamation ratified by the San Diego City Council Tuesday will remain in effect until the council votes to ends it.<\/p>\n
San Diego’s Office of Emergency Services has been coordinating an El Ni\u00f1o Preparedness Working Group since this summer in an attempt to identify weaknesses and strengthen plans.<\/p>\n
Some of the preparations already underway include:<\/p>\n
Clearing and maintaining more than 11 miles of storm channels;<\/p>\n
Preparing for public sandbag distribution;<\/p>\n
Reviewing evacuation routes and emergency access points;<\/p>\n
Installing protective berms along beaches and the Mission Bay shoreline;<\/p>\n
Preparing for debris removal and extreme weather response;<\/p>\n
Conducting Emergency Operations Center responder training;<\/p>\n
Reviewing critical vendors and contracts to ensure resources are available when needed; and<\/p>\n
Providing residents and businesses with emergency preparedness information through Stay Ready, San Diego, a public preparedness campaign.<\/p>\n
“San Diego learned painful lessons from the devastating floods of January 2024. We know how quickly extreme weather can upend lives, damage homes and overwhelm neighborhoods,” Gloria said. “City teams will continue working across departments and with our regional partners to protect San Diegans and keep the public informed. <\/p>\n
Gloria said he urges every resident and business to use this time to prepare, stay alert and take weather warnings seriously. <\/p>\n
He also said preparedness is a shared responsibility, and the actions taken now can protect lives and property in the months ahead.<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific, which can shift weather patterns and bring wetter, more intense, powerful winters to California. <\/p>\n
A study published in the journal Science last month found El Ni\u00f1o events are now more than 36% stronger than before the industrial era, with that trend accelerating over the last 40 years as the planet warms.<\/p>\n
Officials warn this El Ni\u00f1o cycle could bring heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow and coastal flooding. The looming El Ni\u00f1o event is already breaking records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history.<\/p>\n
“These anticipated emergency conditions and their impacts may be beyond the control of local resources, services, personnel, equipment, and facilities, warranting and necessitating the proclamation of a local emergency in anticipation,” a city document read.<\/p>\n
State officials said El Ni\u00f1o is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event this fall and winter and a 75% chance it could reach historic strength. <\/p>\n
Some forecast models predict the developing El Ni\u00f1o could be the largest in the roughly 150-year observational record. Warmer waters and changing currents can bring tropical and subtropical species well north of their typical ranges.<\/p>\n