Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Newsom Declares Emergency as Pasadena Prepares for Potentially Historic El Niño

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Ahead of Tuesday’s Municipal Services Committee meeting, which will include an informational item on El Niño preparedness, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state emergency Monday as the state braces for what could become the strongest El Niño on record.

“The emerging El Niño event is already breaking records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history,” the governor’s office said. “Today’s emergency proclamation streamlines measures to help California prepare for this historic event.”

The declaration allows state agencies to begin protecting vulnerable communities, preparing roads and critical infrastructure, staging emergency supplies and reducing the risks posed by flooding, landslides and coastal erosion.

The state’s preparations will include positioning sandbags, pumps and other flood-fighting supplies in areas where severe weather is anticipated.

Caltrans will stage traffic-control, road-closure and snow-removal equipment along highways considered most at risk. The proclamation also prepares the California National Guard to assist with flood response, search-and-rescue operations, engineering and logistics.

State environmental and natural resources agencies will help local governments prepare for flooding, landslides and debris flows by accelerating permits and identifying other ways to reduce regulatory delays, according to the governor’s office.

Newsom’s declaration comes one day before city officials are scheduled to present their own preparations for potentially severe winter weather.

The Municipal Services Committee will receive the informational report during its 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

The committee will meet in the City Council chamber, Room S249, at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. The presentation is informational, but the committee may take action related to the item.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said last month there is a 69% chance that the October-through-December season will exceed every El Niño event recorded since 1950.

Pasadena’s preparations involve the Fire Department, Public Works Department and Pasadena Water and Power (PWP).

Public Works crews plan to clean and inspect catch basins, examine drains in known trouble spots and monitor hillside areas before, during and after storms. The department also plans to stage K-rails, barricades, traffic cones and portable message boards where needed.

City vehicles, pumps, generators, emergency lighting and other response equipment will be inspected and prepared before forecast storms. Standby crews could be scheduled, and backup power systems at city facilities will be checked.

PWP plans targeted inspections of utility poles, transformers and underground pumping equipment. The utility will accelerate vegetation trimming near critical high-voltage lines and inspect substations for potential flooding, particularly near recent burn areas.

Water-system preparations include inspecting reservoirs and other critical facilities, testing mobile generators and preparing spreading grounds to handle high stream flows. Reservoirs could be filled in advance and crews staged when severe weather is forecast.

The city is coordinating with the National Weather Service, Los Angeles County, neighboring cities and the American Red Cross. Residents are being urged to assemble emergency kits, clear gutters and drainage areas, evaluate their properties for possible flooding and prepare to manage for at least 72 hours without help from first responders.

Portable emergency kits contain essential supplies to survive independently for several days after a disaster, according to the United States government’s Ready.gov preparedness website.

A basic kit requires one gallon of water daily per person, non-perishable food, a flashlight, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, first-aid supplies, batteries and critical tools such as a manual can opener.

Additional recommended items include prescription medications, pet supplies, cash, digital copies of insurance policies and climate-appropriate clothing. With approximately 50% of Americans relying on daily prescriptions, medication organization remains a priority for emergency planning.

Essential items for a comprehensive go-bag include a three-day supply of non-perishable food, three gallons of water per person, a map with at least two evacuation routes, necessary prescriptions and medications, a change of clothes and extra eyeglasses or contact lenses, extra car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks, a first-aid kit and sanitation supplies, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, copies of important documents such as birth certificates and passports, and pet food and water.

Sandbags are available at Pasadena fire stations 37 and 38. Residents are also encouraged to register for Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System notifications and identify their evacuation zones through Genasys Protect.