On Monday, California Governor Newsom issued a state of emergency proclamation, mobilizing state resources ahead of potential winter storms and other impacts.

This year’s El Niño event is already breaking records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history.

For California, the strong storms generated could lead to repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves, and coastal flooding, especially when storms hit during very high tides.

The result could lead to road closures caused by flooding or rockslides, power outages, neighborhoods cut off, damage to homes and businesses, and fast-changing conditions that leave little time to react, the Governor’s statement read.

The emergency proclamation mobilizes state resources and streamlines procurement to prepare for El Niño’s anticipated impacts, like strong storms and coastal flooding.

It further directs state agencies to lead the state’s flood-risk-reduction efforts, stage flood-fighting supplies such as sandbags and pumps, and pre-position other critical equipment.

Caltrans will stage traffic-control, road-closure, and snow-removal equipment along highways most at risk.

The proclamation also prepares the California National Guard to support flood response, search-and-rescue, engineering, and logistics missions when needed.

State environmental and natural resources agencies will support local efforts to prepare for flooding, landslides, and debris flows, by fast-tracking permitting and identifying other ways to cut red tape, the Governor’s press release added.

In addition, Governor Newsom also proclaimed states of emergency to support recovery efforts for three severe weather events that previously caused significant damage in Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara Counties, and a major sewage spill that caused significant damage in Lake County.

Lastly, he also signed a proclamation terminating 34 open states of emergency for various fires, storms, and other events in 2023 and 2024 for which a proclaimed state of emergency is no longer necessary to facilitate response and recovery efforts.