A new report by FEMA details the havoc that ensued during the strongest El Niños of the past, including the 1982-83 event that caused 36 deaths, with the aim of honing current efforts to brace for landslides, flooding and outages.
This year’s El Niño is ranked to be among the three biggest in half a century. The weather pattern is marked by above-average ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific that, when really warm, tend to drive moisture toward California.
“You have an event where we’ve been able to look back at over five decades and see the compounding impacts,” said Bob Fenton, FEMA’s administrator for California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. “It’s approaching us this winter and we want to make sure the federal government is preparing.”
FEMA’s report outlines the framework of a coordinated response from government agencies at every level, from advance work clearing storm drains and securing transmission lines, to having road crews and emergency workers ready for when wet weather strikes.
Worries over sewage
For the aftermath, public health officials are being put on notice about possible problems with sewage disposal, water contamination and subsequent illnesses, while shelters are being plotted in case people lose their homes.Residents, too, have a responsibility to act, the report notes, recommending that homeowners purchase flood insurance and do basic property maintenance, such as clearing gutters and removing old trees, that can make a big difference in minimizing risk.
Certain parts of the state are identified as more vulnerable to El Niño than others. For example, areas hit hard by this year’s wildfire season, like Lake County, are susceptible to mudslides and flooding, according to the report.
“Because the earth is scorched, the water tends to run at a much quicker rate and doesn’t absorb into the ground,” Fenton explained. “If you live in one of those areas, you need to understand the risk in your area.”
Flood prevention
Federal and state officials have poured money into stabilizing slopes and creating channels to help with drainage in fire zones.Flooding in urban areas is an equally tricky issue. The drought has only exacerbated the problem, the report notes, by hardening the ground and increasing the likelihood of runoff when it rains.
Also, with El Niño-warmed water in the equatorial Pacific and elsewhere, the report projects ocean levels to be as much as 8 to 11 inches higher through spring, resembling the spike in sea levels that’s expected due to global warming by midcentury. Coastal flooding is more probable.
Cities like San Francisco are working to protect low-lying areas. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is purchasing water-tight construction barriers to keep floodwaters off streets and sidewalks.
“In addition to all the things we’re doing to clean sewers and clear out our catch basins, we’re also looking outside the box,” said Tyrone Jue, a Public Utilities Commission spokesman.
Caltrans hires 800
The state Department of Transportation said Tuesday that it hired 800 extra people to maintain highways during storms this winter.FEMA’s report warns not only of heavy rain, but of consistently wet weather. In 1998, San Francisco saw 24 rainy days in January and 22 in February, according to the report. Perpetually stressed hillsides and storm water drains made problems worse during past El Niños.
“It wasn’t necessarily one big event that caused the damage and the flooding, but multiple events over time,” said Fenton.
During the El Niño winter of 1997-98, California suffered $883 million in damage, according to the report, with 17 storm-related deaths and 40 counties declared federal disaster areas.
The 1982-83 rainy season was even worse. Nearly 8,000 homes and businesses were destroyed and economic losses were estimated at $1.2 billion.
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