As Flood Preparedness Week Begins, DWR Urges Californians to Prepare for an El Niño-Driven Winter
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As California marks the start of Flood Preparedness Week (October 17–24), the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on October 19 called on all Californians to prepare for flooding emergencies, saying a record-setting El Niño is raising the odds of a wetter-than-average winter and heightened flood risk statewide. 'Now is the time to prepare for emergencies, and the strong El Niño conditions anticipated this winter make preparation more important than ever,' said DWR Director Tom Gibson. 'While DWR and our partners are taking proactive steps to prepare for extreme weather, true preparedness begins at home.' DWR said crews inspect all 1,600 miles of levees in the State Plan of Flood Control each fall and are coordinating with local partners through 13 regional workshops, with flood-fighting materials pre-positioned at 68 locations, including 4.4 million sandbags and 400,000 tons of rock for emergency levee repairs. Governor Newsom has proclaimed a statewide state of emergency to bolster preparedness for the developing El Niño. DWR urged residents to know their flood risk, make an evacuation and communications plan, assemble emergency supplies, and never drive through flooded roads.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Sacramento河堤防（资料照片）。美国陆军工程兵团Michael Nevins摄，公共领域图片，经Wikimedia Commons发布。
- 2026-10-19As Flood Preparedness Week Begins, DWR Urges Californians to Prepare for an El Niño-Driven WinterThis story
- 2026-10-21Follow-up: Newsom Slams Federal Disaster Retreat as California Stages 6.2 Million Sandbags at 70 Sites Ahead of El Niño Storms
