California: 2026-27 El Niño preparation
In an emergency, or if life is at risk, call 911. Follow evacuation orders and instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service. They override this checklist.
Download the printable checklist (PDF)
Top 10 actions
- Storm flooding can interrupt or contaminate water service
- California storm outages can stop refrigeration and cooking
- Boiling does not remove toxic chemicals, fuel or radioactive material, so use another water source if those are suspected
- Storm outages leave rooms and evacuation routes dark
- Unsafe emergency heating or generation during outages can cause fatal CO poisoning
- Storm outages create carbon-monoxide and electrical hazards; keep generators dry and protected from rain and flooding
- Cold wet weather is harder to manage during a storm outage
- Odorless, invisible fumes from charcoal, gas and propane can cause carbon monoxide poisoning; use a battery-powered or battery-backup CO detector when running a generator
- Temporary barriers may limit shallow runoff at vulnerable doors
- An electric drainage pump can stop during a power outage
Official live tools and local help
- Keep Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on compatible phones; check NWS local forecasts as well
- LA County households: register for Alert LA County and check additional city systems
- Russian River and Sonoma coast households: register or update SoCoAlert using the county's current link
- Get a NOAA Weather Radio with battery power or backup and test local reception; program your county if the receiver supports SAME
- Charge phone power banks and test compatible cables before storms
- Save LA County Office of Emergency Management's Ready LA portal for official preparedness and storm information
- Use 211 for local food, housing and disaster referrals: find your local 211 through the California directory (LA County: 211 LA)
- Bookmark the American Red Cross open-shelter locator and confirm event-specific sites with county officials
- PG&E customers: save outage information line 1-800-743-5002 and bookmark the official outage center
- Southern California Edison customers: save 1-800-611-1911 for outage reporting; for downed power lines stay away and call 911 first then notify SCE on that number
- LADWP customers: save water/power outage reporting number 1-800-342-5397
- Learn the difference between a Flood Watch (be prepared) and a Flood or Flash Flood Warning (take action now), and agree what each household member does for each
- Los Angeles County: bookmark the county emergency page for alerts and preparedness
- Riverside County: use the county's Stay Informed directory for road-condition information
- Sonoma County: find the Department of Emergency Management's mitigation, preparedness and recovery information
- San Joaquin County: sign up for the county's official emergency alert and warning system (SJReady)
- Sign up for your county's emergency alerts through CalAlerts.org, even if your county is not listed here
Water and food
- Storm flooding can interrupt or contaminate water service
- California storm outages can stop refrigeration and cooking
- Boiling does not remove toxic chemicals, fuel or radioactive material, so use another water source if those are suspected
- CDC: food that may have had contact with floodwater or storm water may be unsafe to eat, and unsafe food can make you sick even if it looks and smells normal
- Outages can spoil food without visible signs
Power, heat and light
- Storm outages leave rooms and evacuation routes dark
- Unsafe emergency heating or generation during outages can cause fatal CO poisoning
- Storm outages create carbon-monoxide and electrical hazards; keep generators dry and protected from rain and flooding
- Cold wet weather is harder to manage during a storm outage
- Odorless, invisible fumes from charcoal, gas and propane can cause carbon monoxide poisoning; use a battery-powered or battery-backup CO detector when running a generator
Flood and storm protection
- Temporary barriers may limit shallow runoff at vulnerable doors
- An electric drainage pump can stop during a power outage
- LA County: other rural and canyon roads below burn areas may be impacted by any significant storm event, and some areas are advised to be prepared to evacuate with any forecast of rain
- Saturated hillsides and flooding can block roads; Cal OES says not to wait for an order if flooding is likely
- Large waves can overtop the normal tide line and erode California beaches
- Ready.gov: do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters, turn around, don't drown; just six inches of moving water can knock you down and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away
- Ready.gov: know your risk for floods using FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, but flooding does not follow lines on a map; where it rains it can flood
- Ready.gov: a full tank helps in an evacuation or power outage; six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control or possibly stall
- County of San Luis Obispo: locations downhill and downstream from burned areas are very susceptible to flash flooding and debris flows, particularly in the first two years after the fire
- Burn scars can produce debris flows in heavy rain; the ReadySBC maps page lists county hazard and emergency-zone maps
- Ready.gov: by the time a debris flow is confirmed it may be too late to get away; many deaths happen while people sleep
Home preparation
- Repeated heavy rain can enter damaged roofs or overwhelm blocked drainage
- Storm winds can bring branches onto homes and power lines
- Flood or coastal storm damage claims need evidence of belongings
- Storm damage may require safe isolation of household utilities; wet electrics can shock
- Storm damage or a suspected gas leak needs utility-led safety action
- CDC: do not turn the power back on until the electrical equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician; all electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning them to service
- Ready.gov basic kit list; you may have minutes to leave
Documents
- California flood or debris-flow evacuation can separate families from identity papers
- Storm displacement can leave claim and housing records inaccessible
- Evacuation or pharmacy closure can interrupt treatment
- California floodwater can destroy the only copy of household records
Children
- If applicable: RTF formula is safest because it needs no water. If it is unavailable and tap water is unsafe, mix powder with bottled water or water boiled for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 ft) and cool it first. For infants under 2 months, premature infants or those with weakened immunity, follow the CDC powdered-formula steps instead: boil, let the water stand about 5 minutes, mix while it is still very hot (about 158°F), then cool the feed before use. Prepare each feed fresh with the exact amounts on the container, never dilute it, use it within 2 hours (1 hour once feeding starts) and discard leftovers; if prepared formula is not used within 2 hours, refrigerate it and use it within 24 hours; if the power has been off 4 hours or more, or the fridge is above 40°F, discard opened or prepared formula (CDC). Use safe water to clean feeding items; throw away bottle nipples and pacifiers that touched floodwater (CDC)
- Flood evacuation may interrupt shops and access to routine child supplies
- Storm shelter stays and outages disrupt children's routines
- Flooded roads or school evacuation can separate children from parents
- Storm evacuations and shelter moves increase separation risk
- Flood loss and repeated evacuation can affect children's mental health
Older, disabled and medical needs
- Storm outages can be life-threatening for users of powered medical equipment
- Storm road closures and outages can interrupt prescriptions and refrigeration
- CPUC: Medical Baseline is based solely on medical conditions, with no income requirement, and provides a lower rate and extra notifications before a PSPS
- Cold outages and blocked routes can isolate older or disabled Californians
Pets
- Flood or debris-flow evacuation must include animals
- Storm closures or shelter stays interrupt animals' normal care
- Pet evacuation facilities may need vaccination and ownership evidence
- Flood shelters may house household pets separately from people
Alerts and communication
- California flash-flood warnings can require immediate action; WEA needs no signup
- Localized burn-scar or coastal evacuation messages need current contact details
- SoCoAlert carries local emergency messages including flood warnings and evacuation notifications
- Storm outages may interrupt internet and cell phone alerts
- Long outages can disable phones needed for evacuation alerts
- NWS: a Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flooding, which is possible but not certain; a Flood Warning means flooding is imminent or occurring; a Flash Flood Warning means move immediately to high ground if you are in a flood-prone area
- Official road-condition links help households check travel before storms; alerts are on the separate Alert RivCo page
- SJReady signup page: stay connected with the County of San Joaquin's official emergency alert and warning system
- Cal OES: sign up for local emergency alerts; county systems send evacuation orders
Money and insurance
- Atmospheric-river or tidal flooding can occur before peak winter; coverage must start before losses, and if NFIP authority lapses FEMA would stop selling and renewing policiesKey date: NFIP authority runs to Dec 11, 2026. If it lapses, FEMA stops selling and renewing policies but can still pay valid claims. source
- California mudflow and landslide cover differ and wildfire-related losses need individual assessment
- Storm outages can disable ATMs and card payments
- California flood or storm recovery needs dated evidence and compliance with policy deadlines
Local help
- LA households need official preparedness and local storm information
- Storm displacement may require food or housing help beyond emergency response
- Flood or coastal evacuation may require temporary accommodation
- Wind or flooding may interrupt northern and central California electricity
- Storm winds or flooding can bring down lines; stay away from downed lines
- Los Angeles city storm outages may involve LADWP rather than SCE
- The county emergency page links to official alerts and preparedness resources; check current notices and follow local authorities
- Sonoma County's emergency office runs local storm preparedness and recovery