SACRAMENTO — Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil today is sharing information with residents of Senate District 4 about Governor Gavin Newsom’s September 21, 2026, proclamation of a statewide state of emergency to bolster California’s preparedness for a developing, potentially historic El Niño event. The proclamation mobilizes state resources in advance of anticipated winter storms. Forecasters expect a strong to very strong El Niño, with elevated risks of heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides, debris flows, high winds, mountain snow, large waves, and coastal flooding, especially when storms coincide with high tides. Historical strong El Niño years have produced widely varying statewide precipitation, and models currently indicate a strong likelihood of intense rainfall events. Senate District 4 communities face particular exposure to river flooding, levee and infrastructure stress, landslides, and winter travel disruptions. The state action streamlines contracts, permits, and projects; pre- positions personnel, equipment, sandbags, rock, pumps, and other flood-fight materials; and coordinates with local and tribal governments. The California Department of Water Resources reports 4.4 million sandbags, 400,000 tons of rock, 68 stockpile locations, 8 warehouses, and 211 material containers staged statewide, along with workshops, flood-fight trainings, levee contingency planning, and more than 300,000 flood-risk notifications already sent to property owners. California Flood Preparedness Week is scheduled for October 17–24, 2026. How residents can prepare now
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