Mountain View prepares for El Niño-powered winter storms

As the first winter rain fell across the Bay Area last week, Mountain View prepared by publishing advice and resources for navigating storm risks in a year when meteorologists are projecting strong El Niño conditions.

El Niño conditions are marked by unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean, which then affects winter weather patterns along the coast, up and down California. A city newsletter sent on Oct. 21 detailed the hazards residents could face this winter, including floods, high winds and power outages.

Valley Water, the county’s flood protection authority, declared El Niño to be a local emergency earlier this month. County residents can sign up for emergency notifications at AlertSCC and can check their home or business’ flood risk on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood map. Power outages can be monitored at the PG&E Outage Center online.

It’s nearly impossible to predict the severity and timing of the storms, so officials are encouraging residents to make preparations as soon as possible. The newsletter encouraged residents to have plans in case of evacuation or if communication lines are downed. It also suggested residents prepare disaster supplies, including a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries and other non-perishable supplies.

Mountain View is offering free sand and sandbags for residents at the city’s municipal operations center, 231 N. Whisman Road. Valley Water has been clearing debris from creeks around the county and is also offering sand and sandbags at locations around the county, including three locations in San Jose and one in Morgan Hill. Sandbag distribution will begin in November.

Residents are also encouraged to clean debris from their homes’ gutters, property drains and nearby street drains. The newsletter suggests relocating objects that sit along the side of the street, such as parked cars or basketball hoops, to improve access for street sweepers.

Strong storms have hit Mountain View in the recent past, including in 2022, when rainwater pooled on El Camino Real due to clogged storm drains and downed power lines knocked out electricity to some neighborhoods.

This story originally appeared in the Mountain View Voice. B. Sakura Cannestra is a reporter for Embarcadero Media.