California on Alert as Strong El Nino Threatens Heavy Storms, Flooding
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
California has declared a state of emergency to prepare for a potentially historic El Nino season, with officials warning of winter storms, coastal flooding and other hazards.
The proclamation, issued by the governor’s office on Monday, will mobilise state resources and speed up preparations for possible weather-related impacts.
State Agencies Ordered To Prepare
The order directs state agencies to protect vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stockpile emergency supplies and work with local partners to reduce the risks of flooding, landslides and coastal hazards.
“The emerging El Nino event is already breaking records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history,” the governor’s office said.
Officials have urged Californians to sign up for emergency alerts and prepare evacuation plans.
El Nino Could Bring Wetter Winters
El Nino is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific. According to the governor’s office, it can alter weather patterns and bring wetter and more intense winters to California.
The state’s emergency preparations come as forecasters monitor the strength of the developing event and its potential effects during the winter season.
ECLAC Warns Of Economic Impact
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has warned that an extreme El Nino could cause losses equivalent to at least 2% of the region’s GDP and push an additional 4.8 million people into poverty.
In a report titled ‘The Effects of El Nino in Latin America and the Caribbean and Recommendations for Addressing It,’ the Santiago-based agency said on Monday that a high-intensity event could have wide-ranging economic, social and productive impacts.
The report identified energy, agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure among the sectors that could be particularly affected.
ECLAC Executive Secretary Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs warned of “severe economic and social repercussions” and impacts on key productive sectors if El Nino reaches high intensity.
The agency said the largest economic losses would likely occur during the first year of the event, although its effects could continue afterwards. Declining household incomes could also push poverty levels higher towards the end of the decade.
