San Diego County has proclaimed a local emergency, getting a jump on a fall and winter that forecasters say could bring one of the strongest El Niño events on record. County crews are already clearing storm drains, reinforcing infrastructure and adding emergency staff, bracing for heavy rain, repeated storms and flooding risks that officials warn could touch communities across the region.
The proclamation, announced Wednesday, allows County crews and departments to respond faster and more effectively to storm impacts, including flooding, landslides, debris flows and damage to critical infrastructure, according to the County of San Diego. The county said the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center has put the odds of a strong El Niño event this fall and winter above 90%. Officials pointed to the January 2024 floods as a recent reminder of what severe storm events can do to San Diego communities.
The county’s own SanDiegoCounty…