Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Proclamation of a Local Emergency for Planning and Preparation for the 2026–27
El Niño Season and Approval of County Executive’s Related Plans
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution proclaiming a local emergency related to the 2026–27 El Niño season for preparedness and planning purposes and approving the plans of the County Executive Officer, serving as Director of Emergency Services, to designate the Department of Emergency Management to lead response coordination, establish an interdepartmental El Niño Preparedness and Response Task Force, and encourage the public and local jurisdictions to take appropriate steps to prepare.
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BACKGROUND:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center projects that this El Niño climate pattern will reach historic strength, potentially the strongest since records began in 1950. Winter weather associated with El Nino is expected to drive a substantial share of County emergency operations through spring 2027.
On September 21, 2026, the Governor proclaimed an El Niño-related state of emergency so state agencies can prepare before storms arrive. That proclamation directs the staging of flood-fighting supplies, priority work by Caltrans, faster Coastal Commission review of emergency permits, and broader multilingual preparedness information. The California Department of Water Resources has placed flood-fighting materials at 68 locations, including 4.4 million sandbags and 400,000 tons of rock. Impacts are already occurring.
Over the weekend of October 9, 2026, the City of Long Beach sustained damage to coastal properties, its boardwalk, and a coastal bulkhead.
A strong El Niño significantly raises San Mateo County’s risk of damaging winter weather. The County is expected to face extreme hazards this winter, including heavy ...
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