Santa Ana, Calif. (October 9, 2026) – The County of Orange today launched an El Niño emergency-response website that provides timely news, links to County resources and city sites, and important information on how to best prepare for storm-related weather impacts. The new website serves as a focal point for the community’s residents and businesses to receive the latest developments in the County’s response to El Niño weather conditions. The website address is www.ocgov.com/el-nino.
OC Public Works (OCPW) also has created a webpage sharing information on how residents can prepare their homes and businesses for potential floods, as well as how to travel safely in wet weather. The webpage outlines measures that OCPW is taking to prepare critical community infrastructure for El Niño storm impacts. The webpage address is pwom.oc.gov/el-nino.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern that is expected to bring Southern California repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves and coastal flooding, especially when storms hit during very high tides. These impacts can lead to road closures, power outages, damage to infrastructure and evacuations, all of which will be communicated on the new County website.
On September 17, the County of Orange proclaimed a local emergency in response to the ongoing coastal impacts related to Hurricane Marie. Subsequently, Governor Newsom proclaimed an El Niño-specific state of emergency on September 21, mobilizing state resources ahead of potential winter storms and other impacts.
In anticipation of a significantly wetter-than-average winter, residents and businesses are encouraged to prepare now by creating an emergency plan and portable emergency kit as well as signing up for emergency alerts at AlertOC.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to stay informed of the most current information by monitoring:
✓ @ OCGovCA on X (formerly Twitter)
✓ @ OCGov on Facebook
✓ @ OCGov on lnstagram
✓ Local media
✓ #ocelnino on social media
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