Santa Clara Valley Water declares El Niño emergency to prepare for storms

Santa Clara Valley Water recently declared an El Niño emergency, a move that allows the agency to streamline preparations for what meteorologists have warned could be a strong to very strong El Niño winter storm season, according to Palo Alto Online.

The emergency declaration grants Valley Water additional authority to quickly secure equipment, services, and materials needed to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure, as reported by abc7news.com.

Valley Water spokesperson Matt Keller said the agency has already delivered 24,000 sandbags to five locations for residents to use in protecting their homes against rising water.

Some local residents have begun using the sandbags proactively; one longtime Santa Clara County resident noted that water sometimes accumulates in front of his garage and plans to use sandbags as a precaution.

Beyond sandbags, the emergency status will help Valley Water rapidly acquire heavy equipment like tractors and excavators to clear debris that might cause flooding during the storm season.

The declaration follows a statewide emergency proclamation by Governor Gavin Newsom related to the El Niño weather pattern, highlighting the coordinated effort to prepare for potential high winds, heavy rain, and coastal surges this winter.