San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria
Mayor Gloria Statement On Proclaiming Local Emergency Ahead Of El Niño Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 2, 2026
CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov
SAN DIEGO - Mayor Todd Gloria issued the following statement today after proclaiming a local emergency to strengthen the City’s preparations for the anticipated impacts of El Niño:
“San Diego learned painful lessons from the devastating floods of January 2024. We know how quickly extreme weather can upend lives, damage homes and overwhelm neighborhoods.
“Today, I proclaimed a local emergency to help San Diego prepare for what is expected to be a historic El Niño season. This proactive declaration strengthens our ability to coordinate resources, respond quickly and pursue available state and federal assistance if conditions exceed the capacity of our local resources.
“Since this summer, our Citywide El Niño Preparedness Working Group has been preparing for the potential impacts of heavier rainfall, flooding, powerful surf, beach erosion, mudslides, extreme heat, power outages and other hazardous conditions. That work includes planning for sandbag distribution, evacuation routes, emergency access, debris removal, shoreline protection and Emergency Operations Center activation.
“City teams will continue working across departments and with our regional partners to protect San Diegans and keep the public informed. I urge every resident and business to use this time to prepare, stay alert and take weather warnings seriously. Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and the actions we take now can protect lives and property in the months ahead.”
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