State of emergency declared for California ahead of potentially historic El Niño

Governor Newsom declares a state of emergency for California in preparation for a historic El Nino event.

The state of emergency mobilizes resources to support local mitigation and recovery efforts ahead of the anticipated severe weather impacts.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon caused by warming waters in the Pacific Ocean, with this year's event expected to be one of the strongest on record.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, declared a state of emergency for the entire state on Monday morning ahead of what is likely to become a historic El Niño.

"I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the developing El Niño event," the declaration states.

This state of emergency is not an announcement that an emergency is already ongoing, but a statement of preparation for the storms that are ahead this winter.

The declaration mobilizes state-level resources to support local mitigation and recovery efforts, while streamlining the procurement of resources needed to prepare for El Niño's impacts.

"We are not waiting for this season's storms to be on our doorstep," said Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs in a statement from the governor's office .

"Cal OES is leading California's statewide efforts by bringing state and local partners together, conducting advance planning efforts, and identifying potential needs before impacts occur. By planning early and coordinating resources ahead of El Niño, we are working to ensure communities and first responders have the personnel, equipment, and support they need to prepare for severe weather, respond quickly when conditions change, and protect lives and property across California."

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon caused by warming waters in the Pacific Ocean. They typically occur every two to seven years. This year's El Niño is expected to be one of the strongest in historical record.

El Niño typically brings heightened chances of flooding, mud and rockslides, coastal erosion, and severe weather through relentless winter storms and atmospheric rivers.

You can also begin preparations for this impactful winter at your homes now.

Get your homeowner's insurance checked and make sure you have flood insurance . Any changes in policy can take up to 30 days to take effect.

This is not the first state of emergency related to El Niño, but it may be the first to be declared so early.

Two significant state of emergency proclamations were issued in previous El Niño events:

In January of the 1983 El Niño, several Southern California counties were placed under a state of emergency by then Gov. George Deukmejian following severe coastal damage and heavy rain. Additional storms hammered northern portions of the state leading to additional counties being put under a state of emergency.

Throughout February 1998's El Niño, then Gov. Pete Wilson issued, then expanded a state of emergency to 43 counties due to repeated storms.

Local state of emergency declarations have already been declared for this year's El Niño and Hurricane Marie's impacts in Orange County .