50 El Niño Prep Tips for California Homes

By Find a Tip Editorial Team · Published September 26, 2026

What the Emergency Means

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide state of emergency on 21 September 2026 to prepare for an expected historic El Niño season.
Federal forecasters give a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong El Niño this autumn and winter.
They put the chance of it reaching historic strength at about 75 percent.
The state expects heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, coastal flooding, power outages and road closures.
The proclamation lets the state stage sandbags, pumps and other flood-fighting supplies before storms arrive.
It also readies the California National Guard for flood response, search and rescue, and logistics.
The declaration speeds up permits for work such as levee repairs, clearing debris and improving river channels.
Being declared in advance means now is the time to prepare, before the first big storm rather than during it.

Sign up for your county's emergency alerts through Listos California at listoscalifornia.org/alerts.
Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts are switched on in your phone's settings.
Look up your home and workplace on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to see whether they are in a flood zone.
Find out whether your street sits below a hillside, on a slope or near a creek, which raises your landslide and flood risk.
Learn your county's evacuation zone and at least two routes out of your neighbourhood.
A NOAA Weather Radio can still receive warnings when the power and mobile networks are down.

Clear leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts and nearby storm drains so rain can flow away.
Check that downspouts direct water away from your foundation.
Ready.gov suggests installing check valves so floodwater cannot back up into your drains.
If you have a sump pump, consider a battery backup so it keeps working in a power cut.
Find out where your county or city hands out sandbags before you need them.
Move valuables and important items off the floor and to higher levels in flood-prone homes.
Trim dead branches that could fall on your roof, car or power lines in strong winds.
Find your main water shut-off and electrical panel now, and learn how to switch them off safely.

Pack supplies for several days, including food, water and cleaning materials.
Keep medicines, chargers, a torch, spare batteries and cash in a grab bag.
Store important documents in waterproof containers or bags.
Agree a household meeting place and an out-of-area contact everyone can call.
Plan for pets, including carriers, food and a list of shelters or friends that will take them.
If someone in your home relies on powered medical equipment, make an outage plan with their healthcare provider now.

Ready.gov's rule is "Turn Around, Don't Drown": never walk, swim or drive through floodwater.
Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
One foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
If you are trapped in a car in rising water, get onto the roof.
Leave straight away when officials order an evacuation, and never drive around barricades.
If you are trapped inside a building, go to the highest level, and only onto the roof if you have to.

Hillsides stripped by recent wildfires are especially likely to send mud and debris downhill in heavy rain.
Watch for new cracks in the ground, tilting trees or fences, and sudden changes in creek water, such as it turning muddy.
A rumbling sound that grows louder can mean a debris flow is on its way.
If you live below a burn scar, be ready to leave before a big storm rather than waiting for the flow to start.

A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours.
A full freezer keeps its temperature for about 48 hours if you keep the door shut.
Throw away food that has been above 40°F for two hours or more, or that smells, looks or feels unusual.
Run a generator only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages.
Fit working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
Unplug appliances and electronics during an outage to protect them from a surge when power returns.
If the power is out for more than a day, throw away medicine that needs refrigeration unless its label says otherwise.

Standard homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover flood damage.
A new flood insurance policy usually takes up to 30 days to take effect, so buy it well before storms arrive.
Photograph or film each room and your valuables now, so you can prove what you owned if you need to claim.
Keep digital copies of your policies, IDs and medical records somewhere you can reach from any device.