Sonoma County proclaims emergency, ramps up preparations ahead of potential winter storms

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today proclaimed an emergency due to the developing El Niño season, which is predicted to cause unusually heavy rains this winter.

The County’s emergency proclamation comes two weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a statewide state of emergency, finding that conditions of extreme peril exist and that anticipated impacts are likely to require the combined resources of multiple jurisdictions and mutual aid regions. Forecasters say there is a 75% chance El Niño could reach historic levels this winter.

“The best time to prepare for a flood is before a storm,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We know that this could be a particularly strong El Niño season, so we need to make sure we are prepared before the rains even start.”

The Board also received an update on countywide storm preparations. Crews are clearing culverts and flood-control channels, checking roads and other places with a history of flooding or slides, and staging sandbags, barricades and other equipment. Emergency managers are preparing for increased staffing and emergency operations, while rainfall, stream and reservoir monitoring systems are being readied for winter.

The County’s emergency proclamation directs County departments, Sonoma Water, and sanitation districts to prepare a countywide prioritized list of threatened or vulnerable infrastructure. It directs County departments to coordinate a response with cities, special districts, tribal partners and state emergency managers.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org 
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403